Lindemann,   Designing Writing Courses



"Students learn to write by writing. Guidance in the writing process and discussion of the students own work should be the central means of instruction... Students should also be encouraged to develop the critical ability to evaluate their own work, so that they can become effective, independent writers  beyond school."

As I was thinking about this quote more fully, the purpose of writing became more relevant. On the surface this seems like such an easy thing to say. Of course, students learn by writing, but these words are so much more powerful than that. Students must not only write so that they can become better writers, but they should write every day so that they can become more experienced writers and thinkers. They should not write only material of an academic nature, but other should engage in other types of writing as well that include letters and journal writing, to name just a few.

I like the idea that Lindemann believes that the purpose of writing is to both guide the students and discuss their work with them. Discuss, as opposed to criticize their work. Her analysis about the writing process appears to be more collaborative so that the student is more involved in the process, and has a vested interest in the outcome. I believe that collaboration is very important as it pertains to students in the writing class. It is also a good way to help them learn about the writing process in general, and about how to evaluate their work in particular. Too often this practice has done by the instructor exclusively. This collaboration process demonstrates that the instructor and the student are each sharing their knowledge with each other, and learning from each other in the process, which I believe is an ideal situation.