Arguing Differently and yet so much more

As I was reading the Kroll piece, I could not help but think of the greater “real world” implication of this approach to teaching composition. What I find useful about Kroll’s approach—although this interpretation may briefly take us away from the instruction of writing—is the way in which I also teaches students practical skills about negotiate conflict in their respective professions. I believe it was Rachel or Alison who in a previous class/post spoke of a student who was a good writer but still needed some help in terms of how to interact and communicate properly. Therefore, as I think about Kroll’s piece, what stands out as most beneficial is the way in which he is teaching students to engage with not just topics but individuals and the way they construct thoughts. Kroll speaks of avoiding teaching his course as a progression through different modes of essays or writings. Rather, he conceptualizes the course as challenging students to consider different approaches or stance. However, the word that seems most applicable is roles. He is asking students to consider the different roles we assume when arguing and, in this respect, offers a cross-over into real-world communication.

While we do not often talk about the way in which we are preparing students for anything other than writing, it seems to be a common consensus that we are fully aware that we are in fact tied upon in this process. Too often I hear students express confusion over why they need to take a class on writing. To clarify, they see the class as a traditional literature class (despite the fact that no novels, short stories, or poetry appear on the syllabus). Writing is tied to literature and the humanities, causing students to express a desire for a writing class in their respective discipline. While I have many thoughts on why our composition class is applicable to students of all disciplines (most of which will not appear in this post), Kroll’s piece offers just one more way we can transverse this divide. Yes--Kroll is teaching writing—or arguing—from a different perspective. But he also seems to be teaching communication and interpersonal skills, which, if done correctly, seems to engage students on a more comprehensive level.