The Texts

Context

• Kathleen Blake Yancey, "On Reflection" and "Reflection-in-Presentation" (excerpted)

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Semester Texts

• Itai Halevi, "Rhetorical Situations, an Introduction"

• Tara J. Yosso and Rebeca Burciaga, "Reclaiming Our Histories, Recovering Community Cultural Wealth"

• Dan Melzer, "Understanding Discourse Communities"

• Jamila Lyiscott, "Why English Class is Silencing Students of Color"

• Vershawn Ashanti Young, "Should Writers Use They Own English?"

• Monique Dufour and Jennifer Ahern-Dodson, "Good Writers Always Follow My Rules"

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The Task

This assignment asks you to think about what you have learned about writing this semester and articulate that knowledge for both yourself and others. You are encouraged to draw from and build on the work you have already done for this class: your notes, your blog entries, your previous assignments, and your discussions with me and your peers. In a thoughtful and cohesive essay, please answer the following questions:

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• What is your theory of writing?

• What was your theory of writing coming into the course? How has your theory of writing evolved with each project?

• What has contributed to your theory of writing the most?

• What is the relationship between your theory of writing and how you create knowledge?

• What is the relationship between your theory of writing and how you negotiate community and social relationships?

• How might your theory of writing be applied to writing situations both inside the classroom and outside the classroom?

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As you reflect in writing, what Yancey calls a "seeing inside" activity, please make reference to specific texts (via direct quotation or paraphrase) so that your perspectives are in conversation with those of the writers you're working with, reflecting upon, and responding to.  And, above all, please write honestly. Your reflection does not have to be positive or uncritical. Don't shy away from discussing things that seem questionable, problematic, confusing or that remain unresolved for you as you reflect on your growth and development as a writer.

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The Terms

Length

4-6 pages (double-spaced, not including headings)

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Format

.docx or .pdf

MLA citation style

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Assessment Criteria

Drafts will be graded based on completion only: if you fully engage with the prompt and meet the minimum page count, you will receive full credit. I want to encourage you to use the drafting process, including the "product" that you turn in, to experiment with how you're thinking and interacting with these texts and ideas – you don't need to worry about turning in something "polished" or even something that looks like a cohesive essay (although I should be able to follow your thinking and the project you are establishing). What I'm looking for you to do here is engage with the texts and the prompt in ways that are meaningful to you.