My Pedagogy

Wow, do I really have a pedagogy? If so, does it resemble anyone's? These are tough questions, because I don't know if I have enough experience to adequately answer them. Simply put, I don't know if my pedagogy is developed to the point that it can be identified. I know that there are certain policies that I maintain in my classroom. For instance, I expect a certain level of responsibility from my students. I know freshman are freshman, but I think that if we continue to treat them as high school students, they will act like high school students. We are college teachers, therefore we should demand a certain level of professionalism. I don't believe in setting the bar too low; however, I try to remain very aware of whether I am setting it too high. I don't expect my students to write like DeLillo or Updike, but neither do I expect them to write like my 14-year-old cousins. I think if we set a high enough standard, they will step up their game in order to meet it. Let's face it, college isn't for everyone.

So what about the writing itself? Am I a process guy or a product guy? Hm. Both. I want them to produce a good product--one that is clear, concise, and contains good content. But I believe that in order for them to produce good writing, students must learn to hone their skills in terms of their writing process. Of course, editing and revision come into play when considering this. I try to stress the importance of revising their writing, that a true final draft is unattainable because they can always do better, but that doesn't mean that they can't do well. Students have to understand that producing good writing is work. It just doesn't magically happen. Learning good editing and revision skills is just one way to mold and polish their writing. That's what I tell them: Revision is the molding processing. It enables you to shape your work. Editing is polishing that work, removing the rough edges. Both are work, but both will provide you with a professional-looking product.

What is funny is that after I explain all of this, they look at me, amazed. "Oh my God, writing is so much work."

Exactly. But practice makes perfect. Well, sort of.