Writing instructors truly cannot catch a break it seems. To expect a discipline to prepare students to write for completely unrelated disciplines is outrageous. We wouldn’t expect a biology instructor to teach students how to write a five-paragraph essay. So why should writing instructors be responsible for teaching students how to write for a biology assignment. Academic writing is not a unanimous title that can reach across multiple disciplines. Wardle and Downs notion on “academic writing” is as follows: “its use as an umbrella term is dangerously misleading” (556). I think it’s important to note that Wardle and Downs are not against the process of transferring writing across disciplines but there is a lack of research, and it would be difficult to manage. I think a class on writing studies would be incredibly useful in higher education. I never considered the study of writing until I began looking for graduate programs. I think if I had the experiences I have had in graduate school, my writing and confidence in the subject would look entirely different. The course that Wardle and Downs designed serves students by creating reasonable standards. The course will help students apply the information to other disciplines and be more confident in their writing.
Currently, the first-year composition programs are designed in a way that only really benefits the institution. The institutions hire part-time professors with little experience for a low pay and the number of students is pushed to the max. It does not create an enriching experience for neither students nor teachers. The main issue is trying to get an entire field to agree on a desired outcome. There are many opinions surrounding this topic but Wardle sheds light on a major issue within the field. Instructors are not well-educated on writing studies. I think it is important that we question why that is. Why is writing studies not a priority?
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