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

WE NEED MORE COMPOSITION COURSES THAT TEACH STUDENTS TO WRITE AGAINST THE GRAIN OF TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC PROSE.  THESE WOULD BE COURSES WHERE STUDENTS IMAGINATIVELY AND CREATIVELY LOOK AT THE LIMITS OF TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC PROSE AND EXPLORE WAYS TO CREATE KNOWLEDGES AND EXPRESS TRUTHS THAT GO AGAINST THE GRAIN OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE-MAKING IN THE ACADEMY.  WE NEED TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO EXPRESS THEIR INNER AND OUTER TRUTHS AND BRING THOSE TRUTHS INTO DIALOGUE WITH TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGES IN THE UNIVERSITY.  COMPOSITION STUDIES IS THE IDEAL PLACE TO BRING ABOUT A REVIVAL IN HOW WRITING IS CREATIVELY UNDERSTOOD WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY AND HOW STUDENTS CAN USE THEIR WRITING TO RE-ENVISION THEIR WORK IN OTHER COURSES.