By Anna Babayan
In Kathleen Blake Yancey’s “Writers’ Histories, Processes, And Identities Vary”, Yancey explains how we as humans have histories and experiences we share together, like gender, race, class, physical abilities, sexual orientation, and dynamics of relationships with others. Yet when writing about these induvial and collective identity markers, we can give our own perspective on these topics, making each writing different. The way we choose to write about these experiences and what we bring focus too, stems from a collective contribution from an individual’s own history, experiences, and identity, which creates a unique point of view. With each perspective, readers can gain new insight on these experiences many of us share.
There is a beauty is being different
that is something we can all share.
Andrea A. Lunsford’s “Writing Is Informed By Prior Experience” explains how our prior experiences about writing informs us with knowledge that could or could not be useful when creating work in the future. Some people have negative associations when beginning writing, which can make them not confident in their writings’ later on in life, while others might have positive ones that give them the confidence and motivation to keep improving, it’s different for everybody. Whenever we are writing, be it for ourselves or a class, we call upon writings we did good on or ones we studied, to use those useful techniques. When strategies are relied upon, without analysis if those elements relate to future work, those strategies may not be useful at all. Understanding the use of these elements and why they work where they do, will give writers the ability to apply learned strategies and techniques where they fit and improve their writing.
These two readings give immense insight on how we are all brought up differently, in life, and in the context of learning to write. The different ways we were brought up and learned to write give unique perspectives to each writers’ work. I believe in the k-12 education system, we aren’t encouraged enough to use the creativity we all have to give our own perspective. I would suggest writing teachers to consider this, even on one topic, we as students all have different perspectives and insights to give, and we can all collectively learn from these different perspectives. Yancey mentions “…that we write as both individuals and social beings, and that helping writers mature requires helping them write to others while expressing themselves”. Being able to incorporate your own story and point of view into a subject should be more encouraged as I believe it would motivate students that much more to put effort into their writing, as now it reflects a part of them, not just what is expected from them. It is important to learn how to reflect knowledge in writing, but it’s also just as important to be able to learn how to express your own perspective while doing so.
