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

WE, AS COMPOSITION TEACHERS, NEED TO TEACH STUDENTS TO BE STRONG AND PASSIONATE ADVOCATES THROUGH THEIR WRITINGS.  THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR ADVOCATES IN OUR WORLD TODAY, AND WE NEED TO TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO USE THEIR WRITINGS PASSIONATELY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE OPPRESSED AND MARGINALIZED PEOPLES OF THE WORLD.  THIS IS PART OF MY VISION OF CREATING A COMPASSION READER THAT INTRODUCES STUDENTS, IN PART, TO THE WORK OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE WORKERS AND INSPIRES STUDENTS TO USE THEIR WRITINGS TO ADVOCATE FOR THE ISSUES AND CONCERNS THAT ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO THEM.  GOOD ADVOCATES ARE ALSO STRONG DOCUMENTARIANS, AND WE NEED TO TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO USE THEIR WRITINGS TO DOCUMENT WHAT NEEDS CHANGED IN THE WORLDS THAT THEY INHABIT AND THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY ARE INVOLVED IN.  WE CAN TEACH STUDENTS TO USE THEIR WRITINGS PURPOSIVELY TO ADVOCATE AGAINST THE INJUSTICES AND OPPRESSIONS THAT THEY SEE IN THE WORLD TODAY.  WE NEED TO CREATE COURSES IN ADVOCACY WRITING THAT INSPIRE STUDENTS TO USE THEIR WRITINGS TO CHANGE, IMPROVE AND TRANSFORM THE COMMUNITIES AND WORLDS THAT THEY LIVE IN AND THE LARGER WORLD BEYOND OUR CLASSROOMS.