David Bartholomae and Peter Elbow

In reading about the opinions of Bartholomae and Elbow, I recognized some of the obvious differences in regards to the subject of academic writing. Bartholomae values order and describes academic writing as “the language of truth and reason,” and “a tool for inquiry and critique.” He explains that “academic writing is pan of an undergraduates training.” Bartholomae, on the fundamentals of undergraduate writing, comes down on the side of “skepticism”, while Elbow on the side of “credulity” (willing to believe or trust too readily). Bartholomae supports that, “there is no writing that is writing without teachers”, establishing structure within the busy, evolving system of academic writing. Elbow would agree that the greatest development is promoted in an “open range environment” that encourages expression. In similarity, both authors (teachers of about the same age) were influenced by “New Criticism”.

The Scissortail Creative Writing Festival

Scissortail Creative Writing Festival
I was able to attend four of the sessions at the Scissortail Creative Writing Festival. The first two were Thursday morning, April 2, in the Estep Center, from 9:30 to 10:45, and from 11:00 to 12:15. I really enjoyed all of the authors that I heard on Thursday, especially Dr. Yozzo. The third and fourth sessions that I witnessed were on Saturday. The first was at 8:30 in the North Lounge. All of the writers that spoke here were excellent. Dr. Hada opened with “Spare Parts”, and gave one of the best performances that I was able to observe; providing an inspirational example of Creative Writing at its best, created and composed with form, talent, and style. The second session that I attended on Saturday was in the Estep Center at 10:00. I was especially fond of Dr. Grasso’s “Unpacking”. All of the authors that I saw in the Scissortail Creative Writing Festival gave superior performances. I anticipate attending the festival again next year and feel very privileged that East Central University provides this experience.