tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973269483459581996.post1702183734417214565..comments2023-06-14T07:03:19.543-05:00Comments on A Round Unvarnish'd Tale: Teaching WritingCherylhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04817680463922038375noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973269483459581996.post-52072502378379343842007-10-12T08:51:00.000-05:002007-10-12T08:51:00.000-05:00I've always said that we didn't teach writing, we ...I've always said that we didn't teach writing, we just read good books. I see that I need to add a couple more elements to that equation, because it does make so much sense that being able to think and having something to say are vital to good writing.<BR/><BR/>One of the things that I've noticed about my older kids' writing is that they have their own voices. I never taught the originality out of them. :)Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14984938560695736640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973269483459581996.post-37578903885870914002007-10-09T06:02:00.000-05:002007-10-09T06:02:00.000-05:00Thanks for the observation, Susan--you are absolut...Thanks for the observation, Susan--you are absolutely right. I am reminded of óne of my all-time favorite essays, Orwell's "Politics and the English Language," in which he argues that the root of bad writing is muddled thinking.<BR/><BR/>I think I may need to revise my post!Cherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04817680463922038375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2973269483459581996.post-54200856784166261692007-10-09T05:18:00.000-05:002007-10-09T05:18:00.000-05:00In addition to being well-read and having somethin...In addition to being well-read and having something to say, I think the other necessity to being a good writer is being <I>able to think.</I> If you can think and communicate aloud, it's not that big a deal to translate it onto paper.<BR/><BR/>Think of the kids (or adults) who can't write. In my experience, it's due to one of two things. Either the person has a writing paralysis which results from <I>writing</I> having been presented to him as a big ol' hairy-scary thing. Or the person can't communicate orally -- can't put together thoughts in a ANY coherent way.<BR/><BR/>My son (the one who supposedly "can't write" even more than the older sibs) is doing so well in the college writing class he's taking right now. He hasn't been Taught To Write. But he can think. And he's witty out the wazoo! It has been sheer pleasure to read the prof's comments on his essays! He doesn't write "the school way" but a delightful way. So chalk another one up for not teaching kids to write!Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16152213210269075304noreply@blogger.com