Journal #3

Journal #3

What does Bartholomae mean when he says that students must “invent the university” when they write in college?

Students must be like chameleons: they must adapt to their surroundings at school, and write for the purpose of the class, subject, audience and professor. In a way, Bartholomae is asking a student to immerse himself in a subject, and through writing show that he has absorbed information.

What does Bartholomae suggest is a way for students to become “insiders” within academic discourse?

When Bartholomae described students as insiders, he implied that students must enter areas which are largely unfamiliar, yet they must write as if they have gained knowledge and command the subject matter. Another way to put it is that by the term insiders he means college students are writers who want to belong to a club of experts. The experts really know the subject whereas the student does not. Nevertheless, through proper record cites and giving credit to those experts, the student can express themselves as having pierced a little knowledge, and in doing so, temporarily become an insider.

Summarize some of the differences between the two examples of student writing that Bartholomae examines, and Bartholomae’s opinion of these examples.

One difference in the two writing styles that Bartholomae highlights is the interpretation of creativity. He summarizes one writer as plain vanilla, or white socks, and sharply contrasts this with the song writer, whom he depicts as introspective, complex, and Rocky Road with sprinkles as compared to plain vanilla. Taking the two writing styles a bit further, much of the focus centers around ownership of the essay, or writing with a personal connection. The second author is well-complimented; the first is not. Bartholomae encourages students to show that creativity is more than just coming up with a new idea. Being creative can also mean expressing oneself as opposed to telling.