Please Get Some Practice First!

Note: All names are pseudonyms.  

          Something I took away from our Burke reading this week, that I had not thought of before; reading different genres is not enough! Students need to write in those genres too! I mean sure, I knew that students needed to vary their writing; low stakes, high stakes, research, narrative, essay. However, I never thought of other writing types those writings that we come across in the working and/or college environment.

          When students begin to apply for college, they will find themselves looking at a plethora of brochures and catalogs. Why stop at having students become familiar with reading these particular kinds of texts? Would it not be beneficial for students to write their own brochures and catalogs? I think that it would be. Giving students the opportunity (that’s right, opportunity not assignment) to create their own brochures and catalogs. But why stop there? Let’s make it a class competition as well!

          Think about it. Let’s say you are in a senior in high school, who gets only two college visits. If you are torn between three schools evenly, then what will help you decide which two to visit? Chances are, if you are truly neutral, that your decision will be majorly influenced by the colleges’ brochures, catalogs, and websites. So in a way, many brochures are in a competition with other brochures featuring a similar product. Make the kids feel this, show them the tricks to catching a reader’s eye and keeping their attention! Teach them about audience and different advertising strategies! Make them see what really sells the product well. Don’t just hand them a blank copy of a brochure and say “Please make a creative brochure over your favorite young adult novel.” No! Instead have them use their brochure to prove to the class why their book should be the next class novel! The majority vote will win, and you will have introduced the class to at least a one, if not more, young adult novel they have never seen.

          In other words, take seriously what Burke said. It will never be enough to know how a textual genre works. Students must also know how to write in those genres as well! Think of your best writing style. Why is it your best? I would guess that the answer has something to do with the fact that you practice it more. Am I right? Why make one trick ponies out of students? Do we really want to send students off to college only knowing how to write narratives, research, and essay papers? Or do we want our students to truly enter the world as writers?

          For those of you still against me, please allow one more chance to convince you. Think of the last time you took your car to the mechanic, no matter what the reason. I’m sure you were worried about your car and how long it would be in the shop. After all, we all depend on our cars for many things. What if the mechanic told you not to worry? Not because he or she had lots of experience, no because he or she had a teacher who explained once how to properly complete a break job. How would you feel then? Would your confidence in getting your car back in the proper condition go up or down? If we expect our mechanics and other professionals to practice their skills, then why do we not always expect our kids to dabble in the different writing genres we expose them to?