The 12.5 Rules for Writing -- 1st Attempt

I originally saw this image on Rachel Tholen's blog and really liked it. However, in this attempt to capture the image to blog about it, I took it from Leeshi's blog. I tried using "DashBlog" to "Grab an Image." But what happened is that it grabbed more than just the image I wanted; it also grabbed a YouTube video or a VoiceThread that Leeshi had put up--in a different post. I then tried to go to "Edit Html" in Blogger to delete the code for the embedded video, but apparently I also ended up deleting the closing code for the image. I ended up getting an error message when I went to publish the revision. However, when I chose the Compose view, rather than the Edit Html view, the post published successfully. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED! Ugh.

Anyway. This image of the 12.5 Rules for Writing would make a nice introductory image to a course blog or a course wiki. Ironically, there's nothing here about digital writing, or about digital writing tools, but the composing process--and all the rules--are similar in all writing situations.

This image also reminds me of when I first started teaching college composition, back in 1992, as a teaching assistant, and all the things we TAs had our students do. Getting into a routine. Making lists. Having an implicit thesis in a narrative essay. Experimenting with different styles. Having writing implements and materials always handy. Doing an observation on campus. Where did all the "basics" go? With increasing interest in Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) and the ever-increasing technology tools, somehow I think the "basics" got misplaced.

This relates to an earlier post I wrote, the one about Freshman Comp. no longer being a "Service Course." There are so many different approaches to a college comp. course, it's hard to know which is "best." It's even harder when one sees advantages and possibilities in different ones. And combining the best of different worlds isn't always possible. Sometimes, I think it'd be easier if I had a single-track mind, where I "knew" one approach to teaching was the best, and I didn't let any of the others distract or lure me!