Sunday, April 8, 2012
Affective Dimensions of Writing
I have developed throughout my life a perception of writers as artists. I see them as glasses-wearing, hot-beverage-drinking, studious individuals. Now this notion of writers is generally creative writers. I realize as I reflect on my feelings about writing that I really don't consider essay writing art like I do with creative writing. This is interesting to reflect on when we examine the fact that the majority of the writing I have done in my adult life has been formal essays. I do write greeting cards, emails to family and professional associates, Facebook posts, and the occasional journal entry. My formal writing that has actually gone through the editing process is much higher quality work-- but that's just it. It's work. I wouldn't say that I dislike doing this kind of writing though, it just takes more time and effort. I think that as a young writer, I was given opportunities to do creative writing and poetry, but for some reason, it never really stuck. I definitely have developed a preference to express ideas in more formal writing. In the social studies, formal essay writing is important, but expression of ideas through things like historical fiction and social satirical writing is also important. I want to give my students opportunities to write casually, too. Journal entries will be fairly frequently used in my classroom and writing assignments other than essays will also be used and created. I am excited by the prospect of using so many different kinds of writing in my classes as I become a teacher.
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I can see from your own perceptions of who you are as a writer, as well as the ways you choose to express yourself that you have a sense of the importance of writing, especially differentiated writing opportunities for learning. These answers you have reflected on will provide you a really great foundation from where to begin your writing instruction and assignments. I can see that as a teacher the ones you liked completing are the types that will begin to inform your instruction and which you can teach with confidence. This is good to remember, because motivation and self-efficacy will be important precursors to your students own success with using writing as a means of communicating their learning.
ReplyDeleteI think that the term 'creative writing' has become something of a misnomer, implying that other forms of writing aren't creative. In my college education I've found just as much creativity and artistry in writing an essay as I have in writing poetry or fiction. And it's all work; my wife has been writing a full length novel for the last several years, and she can attest to the hard work of the creative process. It's all about the organization of ideas and a clear, compelling means of communicating them.
ReplyDeleteStephanie, I hope one day you can see yourself as a skilled artisan of well crafted formal essays. :)