Value the Vomit

Blogger awolewel shares a wonderful phrase that a professor said to him/her: "Value the vomit!" (awolewel). It's a short and memorable saying that's supposed to make students value their pre-writing and free writing that will eventually turn into a beautiful paper. As I read over the blogs this week, I noticed that many bloggers rejoiced at Mark L. Sample's rejection of the traditional essay. However, I would question: are we rejoicing the rejection of the essay or the evaluation? 

For example, MermaidGhost says, "I struggled with anxiety and depression, so writing anything for school is like pulling teeth. And then I'm freaking out that I haven't written anything yet, or if it's good enough..." (Mermaid Ghost). I would argue that her apprehension is connected to the evaluation rather than the act of writing itself. However, that still leaves students with unnecessary anxiety. So, how do we change that on pedagogical level?

We have to value the vomit. 

If we started teaching students to value all of their writing, from pre-writing to the final product, instead of putting the emphasis on evaluation against a specific formulaic mold, then we might create a generation of students who value and cultivate their writing skills.

I would argue that our class does that. Students are encouraged to blog and share their ideas in formats that are evaluated, but are not demandingly formulaic. We have a basic assignment each week, but we have so many choices of articles and can write on anything that strikes our fancy. In doing so, we have created a space that records the progression of our writing skills and ideas, and simultaneously allows us to learn from the students around us and exchange ideas. In this way, we are building ourselves and tinkering together.

Works Cited:

awolewel. "Awakening my Inner Child" awolewel. 8 Oct. 2014. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.

MermaidGhost. "Week 7 Reading Response" MermaidGhost. 9 Oct. 2014. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.