the four right chords can make me cry

"Let's take this paragraph you are now beginning to read. Who owns it - you or I? Does my intention matter more than your response? Questions like these divide the writing act in an unhelpful way. The text is neither mine nor yours - no one owns it. Even in writing it, I did'nt feel that I was putting my meaning into language that would fit your needs. Rather, there was a constant interplay between audience and intention so that I can no longer disentangle my meanings from your expectations. I did not feel set against you, my audience; rather, you became part of me in the act of writing. And so it is in a good writing conference, like the third one I quoted, where the teacher becomes an active instrument in the student's search for meaning."

Thomas Newkirk
The First Five Minutes: Setting the Agenda in a Writing Conference
The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing Centre Theory and Practice
R. W. Barnett and J. S. Blumner
p. 314

I thought I had an appointment today, but realised the slot's for friday, not wednesday. So I decided to use the time to upgrade my skills and do some reading! I like this passage, puts into words these vague notions I had. I love being a WA =) so satisfying to help someone write a good essay!

posted by beckyboo @ 10:36 AM