Bizzel's thoughts

Bizzel describes in her article two main methods when it comes to writing. One method is writing that is inner directed. It is concerned with the "rules of writing," such as grammar and sentence structure and the like. She argues that one benefit of this method is that there are ideas which can apply to every student when teaching writing. The second method which is termed the "outer method" concerns itself more with the academic community as we have come to call it. She is insistent in pointing out that social process is an important part in how we learn to write. Thinking and social process seem to go hand in hand. By using this outer method, a writer needs to learn the various language and ideas of each academic community to be an effective writer in this genre.

Bizzel points out at the very beginning of her article that a growing number of educators feel the need to teach students to think and not only the methods of writing. I am not sure that I agree with the notion. As opposed to "learning to think," I think it may be as simple as teaching students what questions to ask. If you ask any student about a topic he is well informed about, he or she can usually make a persuasive argument for whatever he happens to believe. A lack of ability to write within an "academic discourse," usually stems from lack of knowledge. This is where research comes in. However, once a student gathers information, there is still the interpretation of that information to take place. In preparing to forumate an argument or to writer a paper, the experienced student seems to go through a mental process.

What is important about this topic? How do I feel about this topic? What do I want to educate my readers about?

It is this process that an inexperienced writer must be caught. This is not teaching a student how to think persay. What it is is guiding students down a path so that they learn to ask the right questions. Bizzel herself that the best method, in her opinion, is to synthesize the two methods of inner and outer directed writing. She shows a good deal of common sense in this article, something I at times find lacking in the material we read. As opposed to siding with one extreme or another, she finds a way to successfully combine two methods into a means that will help students learn to write.