tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1793266105877406341.post105894716705446253..comments2023-10-30T09:08:43.990-07:00Comments on SLCC Community Writing Center Volunteers Blog: Fellow volunteers: What distinguishes civic writing from personal and practical writing?J.E. Remyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15233171746407887546noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1793266105877406341.post-43090087338174377872009-02-05T19:45:00.000-08:002009-02-05T19:45:00.000-08:00Many years ago on Saturday Night Live, there was a...Many years ago on Saturday Night Live, there was a skit called "Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy." My posts will likely mirror some of those random deep thoughts so I will call my post "Random Thoughts by Susan Abney."<BR/><BR/>When I was driving recently, I came to a stop sign that said "Stop THE HATE!" Though this is not a traditional form of civic writing, it does accomplish some of the goals of civic writing. It was effective in it's message and for that person, it served some type of personal and practical purpose. I think that civic writing can take on many forms. Not just by way of letters to the editor, to your senator or even letters of compliment. <BR/><BR/>Civic writing for me, is a voice. People choose to share their voices through many different avenues. I am not sure if one is more acceptable than others. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps the education need lies in helping people understand their options in expressing their voice concerning civic matters. In order for a person to write a letter to an editor, that person usually needs to be a reader of that newspaper or magazine. I believe that nearly all people have a voice that should be heard. (as long as they agree with me) <BR/><BR/>The saying "the writing is on the wall" applies to civic writing. Civic writing comes in many different varieties. Some methods might be more socially acceptable that is true, but I think that we as writers, need to recognize it in it's many different forms.Susan Abneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03170740623439369540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1793266105877406341.post-20024307747659848352009-01-30T17:41:00.000-08:002009-01-30T17:41:00.000-08:00I totally agree with Chanel regarding the importan...I totally agree with Chanel regarding the importance of writing: not type or style of writing is more valuable than another. Further, part of me wonders if it isn’t impossible to place any one label on a piece of text. Is it practical, personal, professional, civic? Is it an essay, a narrative, prose? The borders between style and purpose are fuzzy at best. And this is part of the reason I’m glad Jeff agreed to start this discussion. We may feel, at times, that civic writing is the lonely cousin of writing types, rarely brought to coaching sessions and writing groups. But, what if it isn’t?<BR/><BR/>Is a novel, written with the intention of making civic change, personal writing or civic writing? Is the This I Believe workshop a workshop on personal narrative or a form of civic discussion? Are we already helping people with civic writing, but viewing that writing from a lens that suggests it’s something different? What is civic writing? Does it matter? If so, why? If not, why not? Should we eliminate categories, or just look at them in a new way?J.E. Remyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15233171746407887546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1793266105877406341.post-33226963569130307202009-01-30T13:11:00.000-08:002009-01-30T13:11:00.000-08:00One of the core beliefs of the writing center (and...One of the core beliefs of the writing center (and I am paraphrasing) is that no piece of writing—or type of writing—is more important than any other. <BR/><BR/>If we look at writing as something to be categorized, weighing one project against another in importance, we are going against that core belief.<BR/><BR/>I am not saying we should never try to determine the purpose of a piece of writing, I think that is an essential part of the writing process, but if we worry about what type of writing we are seeing and how much of it is civic, then we are—in essence—saying that civic writing is more important than other types of writing. I tend to agree that all writing has multiple purposes, but more importantly, every piece of writing has a very important purpose in the life of an individual writer whom we help.<BR/><BR/>So, here is one more voice in the conversation. What do you all think?chanelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03221030841737165010noreply@blogger.com