Yesterday was an example of my favorite type of class. Why's that, Mike, because you mainly get to stand around? Fair question, but no. To be able to stand in the room and listen in on all the conversations, that's the reward. Those conversations are the focus of our class, how to shape them, how to notice them, how to analyze them, how to improve them. At heart, what we do is sit and talk with a writer. But how we talk, that's the question. Stephen North even mentions in his first article that our talk is what we need to examine, to consider. And it is always wonderful for me to be able to be surrounded by such talk. Especially first sessions.
I mentioned yesterday many of the good moments that I heard--readers responding as readers. "This confused me here because I wasn't expecting it." "Do I take this to be your conclusion?" "Do you want to make more of an argument here?" There did seem to be conversations happening, not any one-sided lectures. And I do think some of the 101 folks got to see/experience what it is like to have a reader solely focused on your writing for a time. That's valuable, and I hope they will take from the talk both some revision ideas for their paper and the desire to have another conversation again.
I'm looking forward to reading your reflections.
Tuesday was great! I honestly can't wait for our upcoming sessions! I'm also really interested in hearing how the second half of the sessions went. See you tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI thought it was really interesting that all of us were so involved in our sessions that we didn't even realize you were walking around and listening in. And I bet it was a lot of fun for you to watch all of our very first sessions. I hope we made you proud!! :)
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Lorena. I very much enjoyed listening in. And I'm looking forward to reading the papers that come out of those conversations.
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