The Writing Community

In The Idea of Community in the Study of Writing, Harris suggests “Our goals as teachers need not to be to initiate our students into the values and practices of some new community, but to offer them the chance to reflect critically on those discourses of home, school, work, the media, and the like-to which they already belong.”

Throughout this semester we have debated about the importance of good grammar. The readings and MOO have shown that some people have strong opinions and evidence to support the good/bad aspects of emphasizing grammar in writing.  

So now I propose the question, what are the most important values and practices of the writing community? Depending on whom you ask the answer may vary. There is a common vision though…the study of writing is designed to teach students how to clearly and effectively communicate their ideas through writing.

 Writing has a direct correlation to our environment. What we see, what we hear, and ultimately how we think.  Based on what we know, what we do, and how we relate, determines which “communities” we are affiliated with. Bringing different perspectives to a new community can enhance the values and practices in place by challenging them, and making them better.

The writing community is a community like no other, because everything is not black and white. However, the common vision of clear expression through writing should be used to pull creativity from various communities.