Letters

Dear James,

I am sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you. I don't know what happened to my last entry, it never saved I guess. How was class last week? I had to miss for work :(

So as I read chapter 7 of WACNM I felt myself completely agreeing with certain things, but at the same time I failed to make the connection to Writing Across the Curriculum. When they talk about The United States priding itself in being the melting pot and assimilation I do agree that we are not there yet. Examples of racism and prejudice are seen each and every day. The ideas of students maintaining and fostering their own identity is very important, I just can not make the connection. If you could clarify their purpose I would greatly appreciate it. I must mentioned that I absolutely loved the poem "The Calling" and feel it can be incorporated into the classroom for multiple purposes.

I thought Berlin did a great job of explaining the concrete purpose of rhetoric. It is to communicate what the writer or speaker has to say to the hearer. He does discuss the various types of rhetoric and he mentions Genung's four distinctions. These distinctions are commonly taught in the English classroom, but many if not all can be used the respective disciplines. I think that if students were exposed to these types in their other subjects it would help them grasp the concepts with more ease. Did you find his categories to make sense? Or do you think I read into it too much?

When reading about Platonist ideas I found myself wanting to quote all of it. The idea that "truth can be learned, but not taught" and so on. I do agree with the idea that writing is something personal. When they talk about expressionists ideas and that all writing should be personal and that they should all be "true to the feeling of his experience". Idon't necessarily agree with that. There are certain activities that require the writer to step into the shoes of others and write from their perspective.

I apologize for rambling on, but I found myself questioning myself throughout the readings so I felt it was only fair to have you experience it as well. lol

See you soon

Kathryn