I Will Be Brief, Clear, and Sincere...

Nic did an excellent job presenting Richard Lanham. I must say that as an educator I like what Lanham had to say about writing. He seems to say that students need to write in a way that is clear for the readers to understand the meaning and message. We as educators need to accept the false assumption Lanham addresses and move teaching composition into the right direction - be brief, clear, and sincere.

Having been an expert witness and literary consultant, Lanham would know a lot about being brief and clear. In a courtroom, one must get to the point. This leads to his paramedic method of revision. If a writer follows the steps he offers, then the writing will become brief and clearer when completed. Get past the froo-froo and get to the meat. I really like that. I know how my students write; and when they use the electronic thesarus, I am well aware of that fact. They are writing a lot of words but really saying nothing.

I agree with Lanham when he says schools need to take a more democratic approach to learning. He seems to coincide with Bartholomae in this sense. Bartholomae wants students to know what the academic writing is and then move against the culutural commonplaces that determine how students write. What Lanham says about technology and the media format being the more democratic approach to learning is key. Students now are very sef-centered and want everything instantaneously; they are the 'economy of attention', as Lanham states, fighting for attention to the me. Technology urges this attitude, especially the world-wide web. If this attitude could be harnessed in a way that is beneficial for all students, then most students would be well seen, heard and read - this is what they need in order to be digitally literate.

I don't think, however, that style is more important than substance. Style should come later. Here Graff peeks his head into the discussion. Students must know the conflict or the topic in order to write cohesively. Style and voice come later.

Richard Lanham is definitely one theorist whom has very valid points and ideas. Mixed with the other ideas and theories, his could work very well.