On the subject of tracking-I was an untracked kid English kid lost in a sea of my own mediocrity. As I mentioned in my last blog, it was not until reading Christensen's chapter and our class discussions on the subject, did I realize how woefully unprepared I was when I came to college. I realize now that high school should be a time when English teachers are helping to develop a student's voice in writing. Christen has great plans for helping fledgling writers be more comfortable with their own styles through poetry and "Essays with Attitude." She also does her student's a major service by having them examine topics critically, searching for underlying themes. Reflecting on my Caledonia High days, I think the last time I wrote an essay was my Sophomore year.
Until taking college I never realized the value of creative writing. Once I believed that fun, unstructured, free flowing thought was completely separate from the tightly woven structure of an essay sentence. I was always good at creative writing but very insecure about essay writing.
Good writing, is good writing, is good writing.
I always made C's and B's in high school, not poor enough for anyone to give me help in my non-college tracked English classes. I can't imagine how my writing skills may have been improved if someone had worked with me from my high school days.
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