We have talked before about how writing is never done. There can always be another avenue to explore within your topic or a question to refute. To have an end to composition, to me, would mean complete and perfect understanding of all the aspects of writing. I, for one, don't think that there is anyone that has ever fit that criteria. The closest that one could get to the "end of composition" would be the ability to place the writing into the category of "unfinished, but almost done." This is kind of odd I know, but it is how I grasp the idea of the end of composition.
Ms. May’s Various Class Blogs:
13 years ago
5 comments:
Hey there, Rachel,
I couldn't agree more. I read Pablo Freire's Pedagogy of Freedom where he discusses "unfinishedness and curiosity." He states, "Where there is life, there is unfinishedness." I think if you are at a place in your life or work where you can claim that you have reached the finish line, you probably haven't done a good job or lived your life to its fullest potential. In teaching or writing, that is absolutely true. I know that each semester we will have new students to teach, so we could claim that we have finished teaching FYW Fall 2008 students, but have we finished learning from that experience? After we hand in our 15-20 pagers at the end of this semester, are we finished writing? If you are anything like me, everything turned in remains in my head for such a long time. It is never finished. Now I am rambling. Well, great blog. I started to think about it, and I am not finished....
The discussion on "the end of composition" is clearly a word play, with end meaning to no longer teach it and end also meaning the final goal. But of course, for those of us in the classroom, each semester has an end when wrap up, grade, and maybe reflect on the other types of ends. Sounds like Rachel and Becky in this colloquy have got a pretty good handle on how to discuss the end of something that never really ends. But afterall, aren't all life's truths wrapped in paradox?
It's not that good things must come to an end, because, like you said, composition doesn't seem to be a particularily good experience. I feel like the main detractor to composition is beauracracy. Kids need to learn how to write, that's a given, but at what level and in what department and taught by whom is another story.
Any massive university effort to indoctrinate all incoming freshmen is bound to have it's problems.
Wow, great blog. After all, I agree with it! ABout how there is no end to the process...
You know those songs that sound so good that you think they could just go on forever without getting old? Well, if we enjoy teaching composition, I guess it's like listening to that song! And if we don't, I guess it's like being in the Inferno (or in "In Hell" by Van Damne)! Perhaps the trick is, to trick yourself into liking it.
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