In regards to studying writing, Elizabeth Wardle’s “You Can’t Teach Writing in General” and Catherine Savini’s “Looking for Trouble: Finding Your Way into a Writing Assignment” are great guides for students and educators who find trouble with writing in terms of teaching and learning. I personally resonate with what both authors have to say about the challenges writing comes along with.
Wardle teaches us that teaching writing cannot be put in one box. Each writing assignment given across all classes, whether it be chemistry or an English class, requires a different set of skills. She talks about how writing is always specific and has structured instruction. Wardle encourages students to have a personalized approach to assignments and find their voice when writing. I often find myself stressed by following all the guidelines when it comes to finding solutions to assignments. Writing is not just a completed check list of points that need to be tackled; it is also about personal exploration and finding your voice.
Catherine Savini’s “Looking for Trouble: Finding Your Way into a Writing Assignment” encourages the writer to take a hands on approach to their assignments in order to promote growth. I’ve often found myself unsure and stuck on how to tackle certain assignments. Savini views challenges as not obstacles but an opportunity for growth, which moved me to embrace the messy side of writing.
These pieces helped me shift my view of teaching and learning writing. Wardle and Savini have taught me to embrace the disorder of the writing process in order to find my own voice. By diving into the discomfort of the writing, you will discover growth within the challenges.
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