abstract

Linda Daly

Dr. Souder

English 501

27 April 2010

Title: The Reticent Writer, Invention and Social Consciousness

Abstract:

This paper seeks to challenge and engage the reticent writer . Many of the theories of Mike Rose are used to develop cognitive inquiry and scaffolding strategies needed to become a confident writer. Collaborative strategies are explored in assisting the reticent writer to engage in what Carter and Rickly term as “recursive, reflective meta-cognition to solve .problems (131).

There is a discussion of the cultures of reticent writers and developing critical consciousness, as the ideal philosophical instructional stance to teach composition requires a knowledge of rhetoric and a critical eye aimed toward the concerns of mankind and morality. It is suggested that setting up a research design that is authentic, verifiable and convincing promotes engagement along with a social construct, which is meaningful to the student and promotes critical inquiry. The reticent writer is therefore assigned a writing assignment using a social construct using ethnographic writing . The reticent writer is asked how they can answer a call for freedom when confronted with disenfranchisement in the common-place narratjve, or traumatic narrative of a cultural grouping. The narrative may be defined by symbols, products, oral handed down stories, values, beliefs or patterns of behavior (Boivin 128-180). The reticent writer brings their own world-view and interpretation to the narrative, which they then write about their investigation, using both expressive and social discourse.
Bringing elements of a disenfranchised community into the classroom or the classroom into the community, involving a carefully planned expansion of the collaborative aspects of discourse, may further add to the structure and dynamism needed to engage the reticent writer in the composition classroom. Imagination and originality become possible, as true dialogue, involving discourse with reflection offers surprises and unexpected alliances with others. Critical consciousness may be awakened, along with a possible call to action.
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