Have you ever felt inhibited by the styles of writing practised at school or university? What are and have been the pressures upon you to be a ‘good’ writer? What does being a ‘good’ writer mean? Do you think that some formal modes of wring are more accessible to certain groups in society? Do you think that writing can be a subversive act?
I have been out of education for fifteen years nearly so I have felt at a distinct disadvantage to those who are just moving on from their last course in terms of the craft of writing. I can’t say I have felt inhibited by the styles of writing at University because as of yet I have had a great deal of freedom in my writing. Jackie and Candi who run the craft of writing module I am studying have a really no hold barred approach giving as much wording as we need “till we get there” as Jackie puts it giving us plenty of different things to write about. This is of course may change as I go through the years and the various modules require me produce more written work. For me being a good writer means that whatever point you are trying to make, you succeed in doing so while keeping the reader interested even when difficult. A good writer will leave an impression on the mind of the reader helping them retain the information given.
I do feel that formal writing is more accessible to those who have been educated in how to use it for those who have had limited education or a lack of resources to research what formal writing is they may struggle in using it. I also think people who are disabled or who have certain learning difficulties may struggle with formal language, due to the need for more precise grammar, spelling and punctuation for example someone who is dyslexic or has similar difficulties and has received no help for this may struggle with formal language, as would someone whose disability affects their reading, writing and speaking skills.
With regards to writing being a subversive act I would definitely say yes it can be, in the hands of certain individuals words can extremely destructive, you only need to look at certain religious/political groups who have used their literature to promote violence and have done so very successfully.
My attempt at the second part of the task. "to go to anyone else’s post on your blog group and ‘translate’ what they have written into the kind of formal expression you think you should use in an academic essay."
ReplyDeleteBeing out of education for almost fifteen years has made me feel disadvantaged in the craft of writing when compared to students continuing education. So far I have been given freedom in how I write by my module leaders, and have been supplied with a large selection of topics to write about.
As my education continues, this could no longer be the case, as the need to supply more written writing may hamper that freedom.
Education has made formal written work more accessible, but for those individuals who have not had the good fortune to be educated it can still be a struggle. Individuals who have physical or mental disability may find there disability causes difficulties with formal language if they have not had the correct help or education to combat there disability.
It is my view that making a written piece interesting, regardless of the point you are making, is the sign of a good writer, and will help the reader retain the relevant information. Writing can however be destructive when used by people with a mind to subvert, Religious and political groups have been known to use written literature to promote violence and unrest with various degrees of success.