Donald Murray presents some aspects of writing that, while I recognize their value and truth, I wouldn't have put into words myself. One of the main things I honed in on is the idea that writing is a communication of thought. More than that, I like the idea that writing can be used as a means of monitoring our thoughts. I cannot express the number of times that I have had thoughts flow through my mind that were only organized through the process of actually writing them down. The monitoring allowed me to flesh out the thoughts and decide which should stay and which would be better used on a different project.
I also appreciate the reminder that writing is a process. Too often I have had students who have given up on a project (writing or otherwise) because they assumed they could get to the final draft in only one try. Furthermore, I've learned to enjoy the process almost more than the end product.
One place where I take some issue is in the comment that composition instruction has moved from the particulars (grammar, spelling, mechanics, etc.) leading to global concerns to the global moving to the particulars. From my own experience I take issue with both of those methods for the same reasons Lindemann cites as being difficult in writing books dealing with writing: the writing process incorporates every level simultaneously. That is to say, as we write, we incorporate the spelling, grammar, mechanics, and global concerns all at the same time. In my mind, to focus on one first would be to impede another.
Overall, I like and appreciate these assumptions that Murray presents and will likely make use of them in creating my own philosophy of teaching writing.
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