"Sometimes, you know, you have a moment."
In the piece you read for homework, Kathleen Yancey discusses what she believes are four moments happening right now in the field of rhetoric and composition. In response to this, I want you to "have a moment" (or actually three). Up to this point you have read about rhetorical situation(s), the history of rhetoric, and key terms in both rhetoric and composition. You have also read what Yancey believes is happening. Some of what she is describing is not far off from your own experiences. For example, she discusses things like literacy practices and how writing/composing changes from print to the screen. She also talks about a new curriculum that "is located in a new vocabulary, a new set of practices,and a new set of outcomes." You, as part of the EWM major, fit into this idea of a new curriculum.
So, I want you to have a moment or in other words develop your own three quartets in which you describe, explain, explore, create your ideas about rhetoric and composition. This should come as a response to what you have experienced both inside this class already and outside the class (in other classes, but also in real life experiences). What does rhetoric and composition mean to you right now--as part of this class and this major and whatever potential job you might seek.
Be specific with your response. I'm not looking for you to say how hard it is to define these three quartets---that only waste part of your 500 words. I want specific and concrete ideas.
Also be creative. Think about what you want to get across in this post and how you want to lay it out.
Your response should be about 500 words.
And per normal: please engage in conversation with your peers.
Good luck! And I look forward to reading your responses.
First Quartet: Composition has changed. This is not a question, but a statement. The literary world has changed from forms as complicated as poetic verse to instant messages and texts. As Yancey said, we are living in “an anachronistic” age where our literary development is far beyond what anyone could have imagined. This generation has taken the art of composition and turned it into a pastime through emails, social networking sites, Twitter, email, blogs, etc. Writing, no matter what subject it is on, is streaming through the world at high-tech speed. All kinds of people are writing as well. It doesn’t matter if they are from a well-educated background or if they are financially well –off. The world is now open to hearing from anyone on any matter. Think about the number of people who spend their time reading “flame wars” on Youtube or comments on Facebook. We, as students, expose ourselves to literature through hundreds of different venues, even when we are not aware of it. That is the beauty of the changing compositional world, it keeps on changing.
ReplyDeleteSecond Quartet: Writing is subject to change. People are no longer satisfied with voicing their opinions through news articles or novels, but have taken their declarations to the “third literacy.” The “literacy of the screen” or the media is constantly ahead of its game. Before one has a chance to grasp onto the current craze (such as MySpace) a new one surfaces (Twitter) and we must adapt ourselves to the new form. As a technological generation, many college-age students find these changes easy to adapt to and do not require a guide to navigate these new systems, but simply learn through doing. That is where learning outside of the classroom takes full effect. There are a number of teachers, parents, and professors who have no idea how to interpret Facebook, AIM, Skype, etc. This is where technology begins to fail the new generation. While our brains have taken into account the new devices that we must utilize in order to function in an “anything-but-paper” world, those that are instructing us have not. New teaching strategies need to come into effect in order for the students of today’s world to reap the full benefits of living in the computer-based era, which brings me to my final point.
Third Quartet: Circulation is key to development. Yancey mentions that circulation of composition is one of the main tools of engagement with 21st century curriculum. Circulation serves as the basis for development in today’s world, but not merely the circulation of texts. Composition must be taught as a means to circulate throughout all kinds of media, ranging from “[handouts to PowerPoint’s to posters to presentations to blogs]” to songs to documentaries to formal written text. Composition cannot be stifled by the media in which it surfaces, such as a textual format. It must carry over to every genre of expression and be explored in every single context because where one idea starts should not be where it ends. If invention begins in the formal text and then develops and circulates to art or music it can there, through representation and presentation, spur on and “contribute to new exigencies for invention, arrangement, representation, and identity.”
Quartet One: Composition is ever-changing. One of my favorite points that Yancey stresses is that students are now learning from and adapting to new forms/genres of composition on their own, outside of the classroom. At the beginning of our education, we are taught the basics of writing, from the “Great-American-Five-Paragraph Essay” to thoughtful and well-put-together research papers. But what about all those other ways of getting our thoughts out in to the world? What about blogs, and tweets, and Facebooks, and who knows whatever else may already be out there? Composition, as Sarah said, has gone from being an art at which only the most skilled and best-versed could prosper to a social pastime that is used by the masses multiple times every day, as well as a subconscious learning experience. Not only has composition become a way for anybody to express themselves in whatever media they deem appropriate, it has also become a new way for the public to be influenced by such expressions. Even if we aren’t aware of it, we are constantly bombarded by people’s thoughts and ideas through the multiple social-networking sites and countless blogging pages. Because so many new methods of communication are developed every day, we must learn how to use them on our own, in our own spare time, and (again) out of the classroom. So, not only is composition ever-changing, it is also ever-teaching, ever-enlightening.
ReplyDeleteQuartet Two: Methods of writing are in constant evolution. I believe that this class is a great response to that statement. Yancey cites Elizabeth Daly’s proposal that “the literacy of the screen, which she says parallels oral literacy and print literacy, become a third literacy required of all undergraduates.” Because print is no longer solely pen on paper, but has evolved into a digital form, I think it’s vital that we have classes such as WEPO to teach those of us who aren’t quite as tech-savvy as we should be (and I acknowledge the bright neon fingers pointing to my head) to help us understand and familiarize ourselves with such creative and inventive modes of composition. People, unfortunately, are no longer satisfied with novels, newspapers, or magazines in their original ink-on-paper forms. Now everything must be digitized, everything must be jam-packed in the smallest space conceivable so that no one has to burden themselves with the pocket-sized paperback, or the rolled-up newspaper as they sit on the train on their way to the office. I’m a strict proponent of keeping everything in print, but I realize that isn’t possible in this day and age. People can’t be held back, and that bundle of paper is just another ball and chain from which they all must break free.
Quartet Three: Composition must circulate in order to progress. Yancey argues that since writing is social, “the system of circulation… [should] extend beyond and around the single path from student to teacher.” She also states that students should be taught to circulate their work through all types of media, and that compositions in one type are continuously “remediated” on other media. In our 21st century culture, if composition just sits in its original form, forced to stagnate and never transcend to other types of media, it will never reach its full potential. Composition should contribute to the enhancement of all forms of media, and vice versa, that way it may come full circle, having been transformed by and touched on all media.
Quartet one:
ReplyDeleteComposition is ubiquitous. While the first thought that pops into my head once I say composition is writing, this is not only what it consist of. Composing is not only what you write, because as cheesy as it may sound “a picture is worth a thousand words”, composing is about anything that you create or put together to cause a reaction in someone else. Before this class I would have considered composition as only what we actually write, but because of this class I definitely believe it goes beyond that and it incorporates technology. Yancey does a great job in describing this process. When I started off school, specifically around fourth or fifth grade, I was taught the “correct” way to write an essay. We had to have the traditional arrangement of introduction, three supporting points, and a conclusion, because this was what composition was about. As I went through high school, particularly my senior year, I realized that it was okay for me to branch away from this and explore other ways of writing. Like Yancey says, “you can only invent inside what an arrangement permits” and while there is nothing wrong with following this form of writing, I have realized that with different mediums come different ways of “composing” and saying what I want to say to others, whether it be through a presentation, a poster, or a video. With that in mind, is how I bring my point about composition being everywhere. Like advertising, it cannot be escaped. We see it every day, on the web, magazines, billboards and even through text messages. Composition is the umbrella where different forms of expressing oneself are channeled through many different mediums.
Quartet two:
Like Sarah and Micheal, I believe that composition has, and will continue to change. Yancey also mentions how far we have come since the 19th century. Now composition is not only about the novel, but about letting all your friends know exactly what you are doing or how you are feeling. It is about sitting there and reading through your status updates to see what is going in with everyone. Composition is also about writing blogs, much like this one, and being able to exchange ideas with a group of people, without having to physically be there. Composition has also begun to include videos, where you can create a Vlog or Podcast to connect more with your audience. I like the point Sarah makes in saying that the media “is constantly ahead of its game.” I believe this is why there will never be a concrete form of composition, because like Sarah points out, just when someone is getting used to a certain medium, a new one will be created and the old one will be pushed aside. These mediums compete to maintain the attention of the audience, but sooner or later that transition will be made.
Quartet three:
As Yancey and my classmates point out, circulation is essential for the advancement of composition. Yancey makes a point, which Michael highlights, that the “system of circulation” should go beyond that of just the classroom. Since there are so many different mediums one can use to compose, and “writing is social”, why should we restrict it to only the student and the classroom. I think that this class shows a great example of this circulation. Sure, the blog is created for the purpose of us as classmates to express our ideas with our teacher, but the blog is open to pretty much anyone else on the web. I remember when we thought we had one follower, and we all were excited to see who outside of our classroom would be reading our ideas. Since writing is social, it is natural for us to want to share our ideas with others, and by simply having our ideas shared through the web, instead of just in the classroom, we are already adding to this circulation of works.
Quartet one: composition is always altering. Depending on what composition means to you and how you wish to express it, there is still becoming new ways of composing as the new generation of technology begins. “ Some of these new Internet genres-e-mail, instant messaging, and so on-divide along lines based in age and in formal schooling. Faculty, the school insiders, use e-mail daily, considering it essential to academic and personal life.” These different genres of composing seem to be depended on age, or generation or sex however, are all part of the same thing. All of these are just a variation of ways that people can use literature to compose in ways they feel they can express. As Sarah and Michael said, these forms of literature aren’t just depended on your social class and who can write a piece of a high standard, anyone can use things such as Face book and Twitter no matter what your educational background is.
ReplyDeleteQuartet two: technology is taking over the hand written art. The fact that there are so many “third generation” ways of keeping in contact that older generations have nowhere to start on such as Skype, shows the technological improvement that has happened so quickly over the years. It is turning out that people don’t really want to publish books as magazines and online databases are taking over from these. With new inventions such as the iPad, which you can even use on the airplane, taking over in this day and age, it is going to be almost impossible for people to be able to keep paper backed books selling on the shelves. Unless hit novels such as Harry Potter which have already been established keep getting published, I feel like it will be hard for a new author to be appreciated when everyone is so up to date on the latest technology fix which involves literature.
Quartet three: circulation is going to be a key factor to whether the world of literacy progresses or not. Yancey explains how she feels that different types of media outlets need to be used, not only the format in which the text in produced in. Different genres need to be used to enable the world of the media to be brought to light. Composition needs to be something that contributes to the world of literacy and the media, and not the media contributing too composition. Different aspects of the media need to be taught when composition is being explained.
Quartet One: Composition and rhetoric are growing. While this may seem redundant after Sarah’s “composition has changed,” I believe that the growth of composition is easily documented or at least traceable. However, again alluding to the “anachronistic” age in which we all live, the medium expressing composition and rhetoric has developed both in terms of technology and efficacy. Years ago, the field of print included much less vibrant and eye-catching products. Maps and early newspapers were fitting for their time, but do not hold a candle to the advanced manipulated images that occupy posters and billboards today. An ancient map, with more antiquated depictions of the continents and archaisms in speech may be extremely appealing in both the past and present (299). Yet, the appeal in both periods varies based on the situation. In the past, the maps were used as legitimate sources of information and a means to discovery. Today, however, they are historical artifacts displaying the advances that human society has made with up to date media. All in all, the previous comments dictate that holistically, we agree that composition is changing, growing, and expanding.
ReplyDeleteQuartet Two: Representation is akin to success in terms of composition. This subject ties in predominantly with the aforementioned posts’ versions of “circulation.” With growth and change, the mediums affecting presentations of composition and rhetoric need to be more diverse. The diversity of composition and rhetoric can be achieved by introducing more aesthetically pleasing visuals. The composition of a poster, for instance, is still composition, but the poster is generally advertising or buttressing a subject of previous composition. Along the same lines, written word that is translated to the screen or stage is still a work of composition, but it is now represented in a manner that is more accessible to the ears rather than the eyes. Oration, therefore, is vital in the representation of composition, as is art and media. One may then ask, if oration is vital to the representation, how does that show growth? Was oration not one of the forms of composition and rhetoric presented by the ancients? The obvious answer is yes. However, even as composition grows, it also draws from its roots. It expands outwardly rather than upward, noting that the outward expansion is a way of growth that makes representation much easier. Representation and circulation are never quite complete, but the goal is neared when the composition is able to reach more audiences via the different mediums.
Quartet Three: Composition is dictated by our social constructs. Imagine the social constructs in high school. Everyone was dictated by what type and style of writing fit the time and place. The “alphabet soup of assessments” made things much more regimented and precise in one social manner, rather than any outside or explorative mode (298). The five-paragraph essay of FCAT and the forty to twenty minute time constraints, depending on which alphabetical test was in question, restrict the manner of composition and the flow of ideas. Nonetheless, the social constructs of composition outside the secondary school realm are unquestionably different. Freethinking is supported and forms are more liberated. Composition as a whole is more diverse depending on the social constructs.
First Quartet. Composition, similar to Bitzer’s Rhetorical Situation, is contingent. Although, this does not mean that through out the course of time it simply loses it’s identity to be given a new one, it is transcendent. Ever present, and ever changing. Those characteristics are inseparable. I include these things together also to satisfy the fact that I feel there should be four components to this writing since we’re listing quartets. Please excuse my obsessive compulsiveness. We have indeed come very far from the mind-numbing grade school five paragraph essays, as Giselle describes, we have newer technologies begging to be utilized. Yancey’s example of the architectural students use of MS Powerpoint furthers this knowledge. That particular example also felt timely seeing as how I had just discovered the latest purpose for Keynote, the Mac equivalent of Powerpoint, with working on my poster for this class. That’s the one thing I do miss about having a PC, working with MS Paint.
ReplyDeleteSecond Quartet. I am in agreement with everybody that Circulation is essential to composition. Technology has undoubtedly aided to this process. As mentioned in my first elaboration, not only is the technology we have multidimensional, but one of it’s greatest credits is streaming information faster than the average human being can absorb. By the time you finish reading an online journal article, there’s a new one already published with more information while even more information is still developing. Thus, it would appear that print is on it’s way out, or at least limited to public libraries. Michael said it best, “ Now everything must be digitized, everything must be jam-packed in the smallest space conceivable so that no one has to burden themselves with the pocket-sized paperback, or the rolled-up newspaper as they sit on the train on their way to the office.” I believe there is some beauty in the acknowledgement of this ‘anything-but-paper’ world. How privileged are we to have this kind of advantage? Imagine if our foremothers and forefathers found information this accessible centuries ago.
Third Quartet. Writing is freedom, this is my most important realization of writing and composition. It has further propelled me to choose a major in writing, however changing it might be academically. Adding another stratum to this reveling concept of composition, democracy is alive in writing. I wouldn’t know where to begin to stress the importance of this. In this world, we fight a constant war to keep our freedoms and to have self preservation. Democracy is most definitely the single greatest thing a community can share. Whether that be an online community, or an independent nation. Simply put, exercise it. I shouldn’t have to tell a class full of someday writers and composers that you don’t have to compose for a living to exercise freedom of speech, and even if people aren’t concerned with voicing their opinions, you can be certain that they in fact, have them. Everyone deserves to be heard and that is why we vote. Being the voice of many, is where it all begins.
Quartet One. Composition can’t be taught in one way. If I’ve learned anything being a tutor at the Reading Writing Center for the past year, it’s that. It’s in no way a new revelation, I’m sure at this point we’ve all realized that not everyone learns the same way. Some people are visual, some auditory and some repetitive. The same goes with composition and rhetoric. Some people learn reading the text book and going through rule by rule. Other’s do much better going through their own papers and looking at examples of their own mistakes so that they can learn what to look out for. Composition and rhetoric need to be taught in not just one way, but in several ways so that each type of learner has a chance to catch on.
ReplyDeleteQuartet Two. There is not one kind of “good” writing. This is also not a new revelation and also one we should all be aware of at this point. With different genres of writing come different qualifications for what kinds of writings in these genres are “good”. A person who is a brilliant journalist with a newspaper might be an awful fantasy novel writer. Having written for several different kinds of venues, I’ve had to write using different kinds of formulas to equal up to good writing. For newspapers, it was professional and business-like but still at an eighth grade level. For research papers, also very professional and using educated vernacular. In a way writing is kind of like a game, you have to come up with different strategies in order to win, or do well.
Quartet Three. Composition, just like most everyone has said, is ever changing just like the rest of the world is ever changing. With changes in everyday life and changes in technology comes change in composition and rhetoric. They are parallel to one another. First, composing was on papyrus until someone invented paper. Books were hand written word for word until someone invented the printing press. On and on with the evolution of new technology comes the evolution of new composition and rhetoric. I agree with what Michael said about today’s composition becoming more of a past time with all the blogging and social networking sites. Today writing certainly seems to be a way for anyone and everyone to express themselves, whereas before there were more rules and expectations. I think Charlotte said it best when she said “these forms of literature aren’t just depended on your social class and who can write a piece of a high standard, anyone can use things such as Face book and Twitter no matter what your educational background is.”
Quartet One: The process and media of composition are consistently evolving. Consider how many centuries it took for writing to move from scrolls to manuscripts and manuscripts to print and then consider how quickly the process of composing has become in the past fifty years. Yancey mentions that composition and writing have shifted from a public experience to an individual one. I see evidence of this in the facts that a thousand years ago the only way to hear the bible was to attend church and listen to a preacher, and also in Yancey’s example of the serial publishing of Dickens’ novels in public newspapers. Today, however, we compose and partake in writing more so as individuals, through blogging, texting, reading novels etc. It is my view that when the few wrote it was for the public, and now that virtually everyone writes it is for the individual. In the article Yancey also mentions the decline in English departments or “units” in institutions. This applies to us as EWM majors and a lot of new programs within our own College of English. The fact that rhetoric and composition are only now evolving from the ancient processes after so many new technologies have emerged is long overdue. In our increasingly technological society to simply be a writer in the sense that you put pen to paper is not enough. So, we’ve created our new niche in the department as a way of making ourselves more marketable. Yancey says that “the ability to negotiate through life by combining words with pictures with audio and video to express thoughts will be the mark of the educated student,” and I think that this is the goal that many of us are working towards.
ReplyDeleteQuartet Two: What is the future of composition? Evolution. Yancey states that we have already committed to a theory of communication that combines print and digital. I think this is increasingly true among us as students. In college we expect to need a laptop to function at our universities, and elementary schoolers are even being taught in an increasingly digitized academic environment. I think that Michael made an interesting point when he said that a book is becoming merely a “bundle of paper…just another ball and chain”. I think that we could argue this in both directions. Yes, printed books are holding us back from fully embracing new technologies but consider also that we have become so attached to our computers, cell phones etc already, and now we’re adding e-books to them. Yancey asks, “What should be the future shape of composition?” I feel that this is for us to decide. Should we keep the printed aspects of the past or turn fully to a digital future?
Quartet Three: Circulation/Remediation. As everyone has mentioned circulation among genres and media is necessary for the advancement of rhetoric and composition, but I think that we also need to adapt the process of composing TO the myriad of new media. She states the need for a new curriculum, which incorporates new terms as well as ancient ones and changes the one-to-one view of writing to one of one-to-many. I think that DJ made a really great point that even though composition is growing, it draws from its roots, expanding outward rather than upward. Our major is definitely an example of remediation, taking the existing ideas of composition, pushing the limits and adapting them to new genres.
Quartet One: The now moment of composing has indeed changed. Yancey mentioned that in 19th century Britain that people would get together in “reading circles” due to not having the advancement in technology that we do today. With the advancement that we have today the “reading circles” that were used back in the 19th century are still used but on a much grander scale. In this now moment we can get together in groups to share our ideas just not inside the classroom. In our WEPO class, there may be those one or two people who just don’t understand the concept of rhetoric, but because we all discuss our thoughts in our little ‘circle’, those people who don’t understand might understand it better because of the way it was explained by another (at least that is how I see it because I was having an issue understanding rhetoric). Outside of the classroom the circle expands out to technology like BlackBoard, Youtube, and even discussing issues through blogging sites such as LiveJournal. It’s amazing how many people are interested in reading about others lives and discussing issues in these strangers lives.
ReplyDeleteQuartet Two: We should have better classes when it comes to English. There was mention in the Yancey reading, excuse me for not having the exact quote, but it was talking about how English is not even English any longer. It’s such a broader subject than anyone back before the 21st century would have imagined. Going back to English my Senior year of high school, we read stories like Beowolf and had to do a paper that our teacher never taught us how to write in proper form. I didn’t know what MLA was until my first year of community college! When it comes to classes in the EWM major, these would be great if offered before college begins. I fell in love with wanting to be a Journalist because I attended a middle school with a magnet program that offered Broadcast Journalism as elective classes. If better options for English classes were offered, I believe that more students would not dread it and have a better rate of success. Throughout the reading the thought that struck me the most was how if I ever became a teacher, I would definitely use the internet and blogging as a way to have my students do their work. I love that we get to blog our thoughts instead of having to write formal papers or hand in work.
Quartet Three: Circulation of work is critical. Right now all this typing that I am doing would be useless if there was nothing to go if no one ever wrote on rhetoric or composing. New ideas are gathered to converse when writing is circulated. Now we have many forms of circulation with books made into movies (which most books to movies suck IMHO), Facebook, and Twitter. We can get our daily fix of politics, gossip, news, and weather all in the palms of our hands from our cell phones. If the school had a serious emergency, other than the FSU alert, I’m sure a mass text message by a student would get around before the alert did. I have to say that I love that Jocelyn said that “writing is freedom” because this can be taken as true, unless you go into a field that dictates what you must write.
Quartet One: Composition is becoming more and more immediately accessible and immediately gratifying. Across the span of one hundred years people went from penning letters to sending telegrams to faxing to email to text messaging. People went from reading almanacs to daily newspapers to the Wall Street Journal online to the headlines that flash across their computer screens. Today in the U.S. over 75 Billion text messages are being sent each month and experts project it to grow to 100 billion a month by the end of 2008. Today dictionary editors are talking about going completely virtual because sales on the printed versions are so low. Advancements like the “Kindle” and downloading podcasts to your iPod make literature even more readily available. Everywhere you turn it seems that something new is being created in order to make composition faster, easier and better available to the masses. As many of my peers have mentioned, clearly the world of communications is changing… and quickly. The question is whether or not it is a positive change.
ReplyDeleteQuartet Two: Composition has the potential to lose its integrity if it changes too quickly. Despite its benefits (the convenience of quick communication, etc.,) the shift that technology has initiated into communication raises the question of whether composition is losing its integrity as it is continually condensed or made more readily available to the masses. Who really writes letters anymore? How many people do you see reading through newspapers today? What high schooler even reads the novels assigned in his English class when the SparkNotes for every book on the reading list is at his fingertips? As Sarah said in her post, “The world is now open to hearing from anyone on any matter. Think about the number of people who spend their time reading “flame wars” on Youtube or comments on Facebook.” Should we let the comments of just anyone on Facebook shape our worldviews… more than the work of studied rhetors?
Quartet Three: Writers should not oppose the technological advances of the world of composition, but they should ALSO study the art and skill of writing. I think that there should be a happy medium between embracing innovations in technology and holding firm to traditional standards of writing. Responsible communicators should remain updated in all of the advancements of technology but they should also diligently study technique and style and truly harness language as an art form, not simply the cut and dry "fast food" of the writing world we see so often today.
Quartet one: Composition has changed, and will continue to change. This is easily seen when thinking about the modes of composing today. In the past, composition has been tied to print. Today, a major part of composition relies on technology. People compose blogs, websites, and webpages about themselves (MySpace, Facebook). Cameras aren’t huge pieces of equipment anymore- they’re small and easy to carry around anywhere. Almost anyone that wants access to these websites or technologies can have it. Anyone can, for example, write and take pictures. Most importantly, anyone who wants to share their compositions can. Also, composition can be a super-short process (as opposed to days where most writings were appearing in newspapers, novels, etc.). News is constantly updated on the internet all day long. Someone can go online and compose a blog entry that takes just 15 minutes to complete. Composition isn’t a long process anymore. It can be instant.
ReplyDeleteQuartet two: Composition is a social process. Yancey makes this clear. People are meeting, connecting, and sharing their ideas through composition, especially online. Perhaps the most important point of all of these changes is that they’re all developing outside of school. I like what Yancey has to say about one-on-one instruction with a student. I too think that that’s one of the best ways to help students develop their writing, but I also think that with writing becoming such a social tool, it doesn’t seem write to keep the writing process between only the teacher and student. Michael wrote that in our culture, composition has to travel in order to be successful. I agree with him, and see compositions travel online every day. He also says that if composition doesn’t take this circulating form, it’ll get stuck. Composition is a part of more and more peoples’ lives every day because of this social form. Definitely, as everyone has said, circulation is vital to composition.
Quartet three: At this point, composition is very reliant on technology. The mere fact that more and more people are writing (and can write and be read if they wanted to) shows how important new technology really is. As I stated before, things like blogs and even Facebook statuses take minutes or seconds to compose. Perhaps more people are participating in writing and composing now because it really is so easy to do. It seems like internet culture has opened people up. People are sharing their opinions, thoughts, and ideas with and amongst total strangers. Charlotte says that technology is taking over “the hand written art.” She mentions products like the iPad which allow you to read and compose and publish without being near a paper and pen. We see this technological reliance in the classroom we meet in. This new room has been built for us, students whose curriculum is based on composing and reading, and is stocked with new technology. We use our computers and we read from the projector.
Quartet one: Digital composition and media is pushing words-on-paper composition out, but very gradually. Yancey says herself that we are, as a society, becoming more and more committed to communication that is both print and digital. Very rarely does print ever stand on its own any longer. Even letters, books, and other “old fashioned” mediums of text are becoming digitized. Everything is done through a word processor. I feel like the only things written by hand any longer are class notes or grocery lists. Communication across long distances is no longer done via hand-written letters or cards, at least not by anyone but our grandparents. Now, people more often use some kind of digital technology, which requires a different form of composition. E-mails, sites like facebook, and skyping are solid examples of this new communication media. Charlotte mentioned that different genres of composing seem to be dependent on age. Like I said before, older generations are still using old-school composition technology, but the youngest generations use digital media (texting) to communicate with each other in the same room. The longer these technologies are around, the more people will be familiar with their use, making the processes more standard.
ReplyDeleteQuartet two: Education is evolving to better accommodate the transformation of composition. I like how Yancey brought up the point that English departments seem to be shrinking or disappearing. Although this seems disturbing at first, it actually seems to be a good thing (in my opinion). Kristina says that she thinks we need to have better classes when it comes to English. I don’t necessarily think it’s the quality of the classes that’s the problem, but rather their content. Yancey discusses changes she thinks would assimilate the study of composition to technology, as it is ever-changing. She encourages teaching print, digital, composition, and communication. This is everything our EWM major provides! I feel like we have a great advantage on other students, whose coursework is not as helpful in teaching about new technologies that affect our communication with one another. We ARE the composition major, and we are learning to effectively circulate our composed works in a variety of media.
Quartet three: New technology creates new genres of writing and composition, opening the door for the development of more “good” writing. Alissa was right when she said that there was no one kind of “good” writing. What makes the writing in a novel or research paper good, is not what makes a blog or poem “good.” Different genres of composition require different styles of language. A blog is much more relaxed and introspective than a lit paper, but they can both be quality work. However, something to keep in mind is that “good” writing does not always transfer successfully from one genre to another. A good book doesn’t always make a good movie. But I think that in our EWM major, we are learning lots of new techniques to tackle this situation more successfully.
Quartet One: The tenants of composition are flexible. Yancey seemed upset about the fact that English was no longer a broad realm of all things writing and reading. I on the other hand love the fact that English has diverged to become new departments such as Communication, Journalism, and Editing(woot woot!). So while only about 50% of students are graduating with English degrees as opposed to in the past, more students are able to pursue their specific interests which I believe would lead to more students graduating overall. Aside from the fields of study changing the individual genres have changed and expanded as well. We went from a world of oration, to written word, to a digital stage. Everyday genres are growing in new ways that draw even more people in to the art of composition. There are millions of kids who rebel against the scholarly concepts of writing and assignments but thrive on facebook and various blogs.
ReplyDeleteQuartet Two: Circulation is critical to the success and expansion of composition, but not to the composition itself. Kristina made the point that her writing of this blog would have been useless without an audience or a previous discussion on rhetoric and composition. I disagree. Every form of writing is vital to its author, some works are never meant to be read while others are written for a specific audience. No composition is ever useless. One thing that I love and wish we still practiced more of was the monthly installments of stories such as Dickens, where the readers had an influence on each new addition to the story. I feel like this gives readers more of a vested interest in what they are reading, as well as helping the writer fight writer’s block. While there are different composition rules to follow, such as frequent cliffhangers, it is an intriguing genre for all involved.
Quartet Three: Writing is nothing more or less than exactly what it is. Which might sound like a cop out, it’s-hard-to-define answer, but that is not what I mean by it at all. I don’t believe that composition or rhetoric have actually changed that drastically, the difference is in how people choose to view and define it. Despite its ever changing state, composition has persevered through the ages. Jocelyn made the proposition that writing is freedom, and in many ways it is because you can write absolutely anything you desire, however if you wish to be popular because of your writing then there are constraints that must be followed.
Quartet one: Composition is in your own hands. We have the ability to create our own works of art. In this instance I am not talking about technology, but vastly different means of composition. I completely agree with Giselle, that composition is based on the individual, and that anything could be considered a composition. So whether it is poetry, art, dance, theatre, or any form of expression, composition can be done. Teenagers in high school live with a great deal of stress, family dysfunction, amongst the given angst associated with teens. Add the stress of being told “what to write” for standardized testing and their creativity is taken away once again. Teens that would like to be creative then must turn to a new outlet because all most teens want is to be acknowledged and understood. When it comes to composition, writing tends to fall to the wayside. It seems almost too difficult to express what they feel, whether it is abuse or a bad day. It is unfortunate because with creativity through writing, so much can be expressed, but teens are scared because of the pressure to mold into college students with only a “grade driven” approach.
ReplyDeleteQuartet two: Along with everyone else, I agree that composition is always changing. It was mentioned that through such vast genres we have the ability to build our individuality: “Never before have the technologies of writing contributed so quickly to the creation of new genres” (298). We have ever changing and ever growing, and what is new to us today will be obsolete tomorrow. Not only have social networking sites become big, but look just within our class. We have all begun writing for a blog, something we may not have done on our own. The medium is different but the opportunities are endless, as with any other variety of modern composition. Initially, change is difficult. Sometimes a new way of composing may seem odd, or out of character for you. However, once we breakout of our shells, we come back with our imagination and creativity that was lost and we can connect in a better way than we had.
Quartet three: We can change the future if we don’t like the past. One thing that irritates me is the statistics given of the college graduates. Education has become so much more available to the US, yet so many people never finish college. This is frustrating. We are such a fortunate country and take so much for granted, which is why I feel that change can be positive and should be acted on. If we want to promote creativity and promote the idea of composition, we must start from scratch. Young children should be the target. If younger children are enlightened at a young age, their values become different. If steadily reminded that individuality and creativity is okay, then by the time they are of high school age maybe their views on the importance of a test score will change. The changing of composition is inevitable, but if we actively try to promote the positivity in composition, the changes can be taken into our own hands.
Quartet one: The definition of composition is evolving. As Yancey states students are now regularly and voluntarily writing text messages, instant messages, blog and e-mails. The level of engagement with writing has increased along with the level of technological immersion. The problem is that English departments continue to place emphasis on print composition, and rarely incorporate “writing for the screen” (299). Just as the printing press led to the advent of social reading the internet has produced a social writing movement. Imagined communities, such as blogger groups, cross racial, economic and geographic borders. I agree with Sarah and Michael’s assessment that “composition has become social pastime used by the masses multiple times every day, as well as a subconscious learning experience.” Gone are the days when only a select few had the authority and knowledge to properly compose. Now everyone has the power to share their views with a global audience. The social aspect to writing should become an element in the classroom as well. This class blog is an excellent example of how Yancey hopes for technology to be integrated into English curriculum. By encouraging students to write in this new social forum they will see the connection between composition for the classroom and the real world.
ReplyDeleteQuartet two: Circulation is necessary to the success and influence of composition. Rather than focusing heavily on print, teaching should focus on the transition between mediums. I’m finishing up my major in advertising and the program is excellent at teaching the elements of the field. However, I believe a course like this one would be an excellent addition to the curriculum. I agree with JennaD’s observation that the skills we learn in this class give us an advantage. The ability to take a message and edit it to work in print and online is invaluable to me as a marketing professional, and I would argue to anyone who wants to be successful in the business world. From my experience in the business world I’ve observed writing skills as a universal necessity. Regardless of industry the ability to communicate you ideas effectively is invaluable, and with the prevalence of technology the ability to adapt your message to various mediums is essential. As Yancey says “we are digital already, at least in practice” (307). It’s now time for digital execution to become part of accepted the teaching process.
Quartet three: The way students are taught to engage with their audience is and will continue changing. Rather than “a singular person writing over and over again - to the teacher” (310) student should be taught to factor external audiences into their process of composition. In the business world you are rarely call upon to write for only one other person, and even in such cases the student teacher power dynamic is commonly removed. Therefore, it’s paramount that student learn how to accurately identify and address their audience. As a marketer this is essentially what I do all day, determine my audience and tailor a message to their needs. It’s motivating to know that the work I’m doing in the classroom will help better my writing in the real world.
Quartet One: composing impressively adapts itself to an evolving society. Sammi said: "Who really writes letters anymore? How many people do you see reading through newspapers today? What high schooler even reads the novels assigned in his English class when the SparkNotes for every book on the reading list is at his fingertips?" Although, the appreciation of former methods of writing and composing has been slowly diminishing, I feel like there is a beauty in the way composing and writing is able to adapt itself to such a fast-paced society. Like fashion and music, writing and composition NEEDS change. Nothing should be frozen onto one time period, evolution is key in growth. In fact these new approaches to writing and composing, such as those technologically-based (blogs, social networks, online reading), help make English as a whole more appealing to society, and as you may or may not know, a lot more people are compelled to participate within this realm now-in-days, as opposed to earlier periods.
ReplyDeleteQuartet Two: People grow to hate writing because of the restrictions and structured environment in which writing was presented in. It seems to be that all educational methods prior to the collegiate level have too many limitations when it comes to English. It’s a shame that there are so many rules and regulations within a subject that is so free. All these things inhibit the writer’s full potential, and taint their view of the subject as well. I feel like all the people that hate writing and English, are those people who were a victim to FCAT style boundaries and God knows what other implemented rules their teachers drilled into them. Like DJ said: "The five-paragraph essay of FCAT and the forty to twenty minute time constraints, depending on which alphabetical test was in question, restrict the manner of composition and the flow of ideas." Unfortunately all of these factors cage creativity, which in turn hinder writing and expression. Fortunately, I was placed in “Gifted” and “Magnet” classes for a majority of my educational career prior to college. In these classes’ creativity and expression via the arts was encouraged. I believe that that environment subconsciously influenced my love for writing and the arts.
Quartet Three: writing is everything. I couldn’t find any other way to present the idea, my apologies, considering that it’s such a broad one. But I can’t begin to explain how important the operations of the components of writing are. Understanding words, rhetoric, among other ingredients of writing and composition, I believe is so vital to one’s life. As Jocelyn said: "Writing is freedom", and it is indeed liberating. Once you are able to master this art, I believe you can do anything. A lot of people don’t understand this, and they wonder why they can’t ever get what they want. As Jocelyn beautifully put: "Democracy is alive in writing… Democracy is most definitely the single greatest thing a community can share. Whether that be an online community, or an independent nation. Simply put, exercise it.” I agree completely.
Quartet 1: Composition as proved looking back through the history of writing is subject to change. The original modes of composition were stiff and formal, usually written about essential topics and there were few who could read it. But as with all other things as time progressed and new technology and people came about so did types of composition. Now there are so many different types of composition that those who go on to become professors of English can’t figure out which ones to teach. Which is why there needs to be more classes that deal with the teaching of these new composition types.
ReplyDeleteThe print method of composition is probably the oldest and the least used today. Now people use e-mail, texting, blogging and others like that. However because of new technology and the way that composition circulates nowadays in the next year or so one of those methods may become obsolete.
Quartet 2: The methods of composition that people use are as ever changing as the technology we use to compose. The second a new piece of technology comes out it’s a race to see who can figure out how to use it to compose the fastest. Then an all new genre of composition is created when they figure it out. There are also different kinds of composition. To name a few; print, digital, visual; of the ones listed print is the only one that does not really change anymore. Usually the digital and visual types are the ones that gain new methods with each piece of modern technology.
Quartet 3: For there to be evolution in composition there must be a method of circulation. This is an absolute fact. Think about it, when composing on paper first came out and very few could read, or had enough money or leisure time to read circulation was down and it took until the there were more people who could read for the method of composing to evolve. Now though, there are so many people composing that methods of composition move as fast as texting on the phone.
The transmitting of an idea for a method of composition was slow right up until widespread use of the internet. The more people that have access to computers or other pieces of technology that can be communicated on the faster an idea of composing will circle around. We are in an amazing age, if I posted a youtube video I could have people all over the world see it and respond using their videos, the Internet is the best method of composition circulation of anything else on Earth to date. I agree with Alex about how important technology is to the evolution of composition.
Quartet One:
ReplyDeleteIt appears that several of my classmates, including Jessica S, will agree with my theory on composition. Composition is ambiguous. It’s up for discussion and progresses continually. Not so much as it progresses, actually, does it change form. A changing world calls for changing mediums to describe and engage it. To say that we’ve evolved might be… pretentious. Think back on some of the greatest writings of all time. Better yet, let’s reference the old book ever written: the bible. Preachy, fear-driven, fiery-brimstone doom aside, it’s a very well written book. And, if one chose to approach it as a fiction novel, it’s pretty damned incredible. What lessons could be learned from this book? How many times has it been altered and translated? How powerful is this book? How popular? So powerful and popular, in fact, that every American hotel room keeps a bible in a dresser drawer. I’m talking about the OLDEST book known to man. Our educational system, being what it is now, simply pumps out mass produced little composers. Depending on the time and region in which we completed our schooling, we’re very much the same. Why? Because you can’t create talent. You can change the medium to open doors to new talent, and you can tweak the old to make it more formidable for the time, but it is never too near or far from its point of origin.
Quartet Two:
The arrival of new mediums is not only conducive to a changing society, but necessary. Everyone knows that Blockbuster and the printed word are on the verge of being a thing of the past. What, with Netflix, giving consumers what they want at a fraction of the cost and, in many cases, instantly… suffice to say that we’ll miss the days we used to go to the video store and browse for a film. The same is true for written word. Who has time to read and deal with the bulkiness of the paper? That’s why they went out and bought an iPad. When traveling, you can bring several books, or you can bring just one Kindle. With the affordability of these things becoming a priority to consumers, they’re more readily available, thus thrusting our old mediums out the window. For this reason, we absolutely have to be able to keep with the world’s changing pace. Alissa makes this point when quoting Yancey in the context of society using new mediums casually (ie, Facebook, Twitter). Those who can’t keep up will fall between the cracks and be a victim of the magmatic corporate overthrow.
Quartet Three:
The importance of composing is endless. We need different forms of composition. Especially when living through historical times like these. People don’t want they only form of writing to be journalism, and they don’t want the only form of media to be CNN, we want a little of everything. We want to be informed, and entertained… but NOT at the same time. We are versatile, complex and busy creatures and dammit, we know what we want.
First quartet: composition is without contraint. I agree with Giselle in that composition isn't limited solely to writing. Composition is anything creatively drawn from the mind, whether it be in the form of writing, photography, graphic design, etc. Technology has evolved to cultivate this definition of composition and the use of multi-part projects is just proof of this. I can't count the number of projects I've done in the past that required the use of multi-form compositions. There are endless ways to express, so to contrain composition just to writing would be illogical and suppressive.
ReplyDeleteSecond quartet: composition should evolve with the moment. In keeping with my thoughts on composition being unrestrainted, it should also evolve with the mediums to express it. Neither the ideas nor the mode of delivery should be stagnant in time. Everything has to change and evolve or be left behind. This thought is true even with rhetoric and composition. The use of rhetoric has had to evolve through time and adjustments to have a place in today. Its uses have adapted from just persuasion to word choice and even further to visual rhetoric and the use of imagery to persuade. These things cannot be limited, otherwise it would hamper progress.
Second quartet: composition should be everlasting. Though it should be expected to evolve with the time, there should still be an everpresent structure and theme in the ideas and modes of composition and rhetoric. Neither could be defined as what they are without these constants. These tools should be flexible enough to change but sturdy enough to remain, in essence, what they really are.
Quartet One: composition NEEDS to change. It needs to change as often has necessary to keep up with times. Alissa took the words right out of my mouth with "With changes in everyday life and changes in technology comes change in composition and rhetoric. They are parallel to one another." Compostion has changed so much in the year. In the last decade alone. The means in which people commaunicate and get print have changed. When my parents were children all their parents would read the newspaper that was delivered to their home each morning, and it was the local newspaper at that. Now, I can't recall the last time I saw my read an actual newspaper. Every morning she reads the news from her laptop and and reads several different papers from around the nation from the New York Times to the Washington post. The only was writing will make any progress, like anything else, is if it continues to evolve and keep with up society. This blog post alone is a perfect example of how things are positively changing. This like reading online, blogging, Twitter/social networks allow writing to appeal to a broader audience tat may have never taken a liking toward it.
ReplyDeleteQuartet Two: while writing and different styles need to taught to children growing up. Teaching methods and presentation of writing needs to change with younger generations. Countless times have a heard my younger relatives talk about how they hate to read and hate to write or how boring and hard it. Especially when kids are so young their creativity and imagination is so immense but is often limited because of all the "rules" they have to follow. DJ example of the standardized test is exactly what I am referring to. Then Janice's statement "I feel like all the people that hate writing and English, are those people who were a victim to FCAT style boundaries and God knows what other implemented rules their teachers drilled into them." We shouldn't be solely preparing children how to pass a test if you have to sacrifice everything else. Like Janice I went to school in South Florida where the public education system lacks heavily, especially during middle school. I too was fortunate enough to not only attend "magnet" and "gifted" classes/schools but my mother was also educated enough to help make writing more than what was present to most students at schools. The society in which you grow up in don't only effect what you write about, but how you write about it. Education and presentation are everything.
Quartet Three: writing should not be limited. I used the word "limited" because I mean it in so many ways possible. Ones creativity should not be limited. What you write about should not be limited. Jocelyn's comment about writing being freedom is true. It is your personal freedom to write about anything and everything. How you write should not be limited. ifyouwantowritelikethisthensobeitandnooneshouldtellyouotherwise. Great things come from those you decided to be different, to take a path less traveled. Maybe it isn't said per say but so many people that have not been really educated on writing feel that writing has a formul/equation but it really doesn't.
Yancey talks in her article about her quartets, although they were a bit hard for me to grasp, I have come up with my own thoughts about the change of Rhetoric and Composition. These are, to me, the largest changes I have seen in my lifetime.
ReplyDeleteQuartet 1:
Books are dying. The way through which we read has changed. The Kindel and iPad are what people are now reading from. Google books and JSTOR are online reading materials that we use to get our information. There are benefits to this for us; convenience and cost efficiency. The downside is not being able to go into a library or a bookstore and buy a book, which is also bad for the publishers pocket. This new way of reading, however, is much more accessible. People have many more resources at the touch of a button that they would have to spend hours flipping through at the library.
Quartet 2:
The Internet. This has changed rhetoric and composition immensely! It not only changes how we read, but what we read as well. Facebook and twitter, blogging and all those outlets that come along with that category are literary innovations. This is a huge moment for English as a whole! This new media has mainly changed English by giving people the means to publish their own work. There are so many more thoughts and ideas out there than we had before. The internet is their “safe place” to store their thoughts, anonymously or not. It is an interesting phenomena of changing composition.
Quartet 3:
People are lazy. Despite the internet and having things becoming more accessible, I almost feel in a way that reading is dying. My GPS in my car has a program that reads books to me while I’m driving. The internet provides a summary for just about anything you could want. They even shorten relatively short articles. Many people my age do not read, only those Ive met in my major read “for fun” or even for school. When we were younger in school, we did Accelarated Reading and read books to get to a prize through taking quizzes. Perhaps now in our adult lives were waiting for a prize? I must admit, I am guilty of this too. I love to write, but I don’t much care for reading what others have to say.
After reviewing my quartets, it looks like technology is the culprit that I have come up with in all the ways rhetoric and composition are changing. Those things will soon change as the stone tablet and writing on animal skin changed and transformed into what we know today, and so on and so forth. I am unsure what will come of reading and what other ways we will find literature, but I know more change is upon us, and technology will be the culprit.
Quartet One: Composition begins with a passion. The passion doesn’t always have to reside within the composition itself, but within whatever urged you to do so. In most cases you don’t just pick up a pen/ or lay a finger upon the key board/ typewriter without initially having a first thought that triggered you to do so. This will always be there case, today, in the past, and in the future. Without this initially passion about anything, we would have nothing to write about, or maybe better worded, nothing worth reading.
ReplyDeleteQuartet Two: I completely and 100% agree with Kristina Z when she mentioned having stronger courses when it comes to English. I can’t tell you how much I was affected when coming to college and not having the proper education. My stomach churned by the thought of not writing the paper, but correctly citing it and using the correct format. I’ve always been able to grasp the creative aspect of writing, but it was the grammar and editing that always left me cringing. Today, education is evolving in ways to better educate in this specific field. Unlike most of the positive responses to choosing the EWM, this is the reason I have chosen this path. As much as I’ve never loved editing, I have always loved writing and understand the importance and advantages of having the ability to edit your own work. I wanted to force myself to go beyond my comfort zone and engage myself in work that I know will help me in my career.
Quartet Three: Just like many others have mention I also agree that circulation is key. It’s quite obvious it is in our everyday lives. Without circulation there would be no purpose in writing, for many who find there purpose in writing is to write for others. Composition is already circulated throughout the world in numerous ways, mostly always socially. Accounts such as twitter, facebook, and this very own site (blogger) are one of the biggest contributors. It is here that individuals are free to express any opinions of any sort on the web which is made visible to the entire world. This is also one of the beauties in advancement of technology that writing can travel so fast and efficiently to people all over the world. Books, magazines, and newspapers success all rely on circulation. Without the “approval” from the audience addressed there would be no demand for any of them at all. While yes I do believe some write for themselves, I don’t believe that those who do it so often wouldn’t be discouraged without a pat on the back. Although you may just be writing for yourself, unknowingly you are gearing it towards some specific audience, perhaps one that is much like yourself.