entry 7

For a meaningful experience to be made in reference to reading and writing, a teacher must help her students enjoy english. one of the most difficult times for me in english was when we had to work out of  a workbook individually. I love english, and the fact that I felt bored was upsetting. The problem was not the material, the stories we read were actually interesting, the problem was how it was being taught. reading and writing are about expression, getting your point across, sharing a view. If a teacher can spark a student to do this, the student will more likely than not enjoy english more than out of a work book.

I grew up with the formulatic writing that was taught by Shaffer. Many teacher at my school liked teaching english that was, the formula made it simple. However, I enjoyed writing. The constrictions of the writing style forced me to cater to my teachers needs, instead of my own needs as a writer. This is something that Wiley warns us against; not letting students exercise their abstract thinking. This, to Wiley is important, because writers need to know that this is why we write. So that we can express ourselves in the best way possible. The formula style writing is not a flexible writing style, and does not work for all types of writing pieces.

The benefit of this writing style is for those who do not thrive in english classes. I saw classmates who did struggle with this all throughout high school. When they did use formula writing however, it helped them a great deal. It gave them the start they needed to continue writing their papers until eventually, they could finish it. It was the gentle shove when you ride a bike without training wheels for the first time; eventually you will just have to pedal and go. This writing style gave them confidence as writers, and this confidence gave them the courage to take risks as writers and get out of their comfort zone to become more abstract.

The formula style can be argued to be constricting, or a necessary building block. Either way it is a style many teachers use, because of its overall benefits for the majority.