COMPOSITION STUDIES BY DIANE K. OLSON, PHD, WRITING, TEACHING AND CRITICISM

OUR PRIMARY OBLIGATION AS TEACHERS OF COMPOSITION SHOULD BE TO OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR WRITINGS AND THEIR GROWTH AS WRITERS, NOT TO THE LITERACY DEMANDS OCCASIONALLY IMPOSED BY THE UNIVERSITY OR TO OUR CAREERS.  THIS OBLIGATION MEANS THAT WE NEED TO BE ADVOCATES FOR OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR WRITINGS AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY/WRITE IN THOSE WRITINGS.  WE NEED TO CARE ABOUT WHAT OUR STUDENTS WANT AND NEED TO EXPRESS IN THEIR WRITINGS AND BE THERE TO HELP THEM BETTER EXPRESS WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO SAY/WRITE SO THAT THEY CAN GROW AS PASSIONATE, PURPOSEFUL WRITERS.  WE NEED TO BE THERE FOR OUR STUDENTS WHEN THEY WANT TO REACH A LARGER AUDIENCE AND A LARGER WORLD WITH THEIR WRITINGS THAN THAT OF OUR CLASSROOM AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO REACH THAT LARGER WORLD WITH THEIR WRITINGS. WE NEED TO SHOW COMPASSIONATE CONCERN AND GIVE COMPASSIONATE ASSISTANCE TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR WRITINGS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.  AFTER ALL, OUR PRIMARY OBLIGATION IS TO SERVE STUDENTS' PURPOSES AS WRITERS, NOT PURPOSES IMPOSED UPON US AND THEM BY THE UNIVERSITY'S LIMITED UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THEIR WRITINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO DO OR BE.   WE NEED TO HELP OUR STUDENTS SEE THE POSSIBILITIES OF USING THEIR WRITINGS TO ENGAGE A LARGER WORLD BEYOND THE UNIVERSITIES IN WHICH WE RESIDE.  WE NEED TO BE ADVOCATES FOR A MORE EXPANSIVE VIEW OF WRITING AND WHAT WRITING CAN DO FOR THE STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITIES AND WORLD IN WHICH THEY RESIDE BEYOND THE UNIVERSITY.