The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 1:9
Ah, how sad it is that this verse rings true. I am working on my 'Writing in Discipline' paper for CAP and I am continually given the advice to 'paraphrase' my sources and it just seems to me that all these silly papers do is make us paraphrase. Where is the new ideas? The fresh look, the gathering evidence to come to our own conclusions at? It's like a book report for land's sakes! I want to know what is the point of college writing if it seems like all we do is research and never present an actual valid, original viewpoint. I see none of this. When do the CAP students stop writing book reports and start actually writing?
If I sound frustrated, it is because I am.
There truly is no new thing under the sun, but even more so in college writing. We are simply reproducing and representing works others have already done, and done much better may I add. *sigh* Give me research to do, give me a history or a bookreport or an overview to do if you want me to. But DO NOT call it writing, darn it. Don't call it that, because that's not what it is. It's regurgitating information that has existed, will exist and continues to exist... how blase...
*sits in corner hugging knees rocking back and forth*
"Hug me."
See you Space Cowboy...
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2 comments:
I know exactly how you feel.
So do I, and that anxiety only gets worse the "further" one goes in academia. The purpose of academic discourse, and indeed interdisciplinary writing, is to exchange ideas in "new" and innovative ways; the whole paraphrasing issue my be an attempt on your instructor's part to emphasize that your ideas need to be grounded in intellectual weight[framing "what has come before" in terms of your assertions ], but paraphrasing is not the only means to do so. As you know, I tend to scream "book report!" acerbically when I read too much paraphrase. I'd rather ponder an author's explication of specific kernels of language, but not all disciplines lend themselves to that . I appreciate your Bible quote. Prophets are prophets for a reason. Some theologians claim that the the mark of a true prophet is not the capacity to reveal the future; dime a dozen card readers 'll do that for ya at yer friendly neighborhood strip club for a quick $75 cash, but prophet's see the present as it is.
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