Comment and Rebuttal/ Peter Elbow's method


I have heard of Elbow and read some of his debate with Bartholomae, but it was very interesting and informative to actually see and hear him describing his memoir as a writer.

If Elbow is the first or one of several to initiate freewriting as a support to help students get started and to help them find their voice, then we must be grateful.

I do not pretend to totally understand this debate about sincerity and which kind is best, etc. The charge that Elbow makes much of having faith as a writer strikes similar to Plato and Aristotle saying that a rhetorist is more believable and convincing if he has good character. I don't know if faith and sincerity is kin to having a good character.

I supppose writers should be able to do "what ever works " as Elbow says, "functionalism. " By that, I mean if a writer makes a clear, and pursuasive argument by " the direct method: create a piece, finish it and critique it ( the dangerous direct process) , then it works. If the open-ended loop process with many drafts works to make a sound convincing essay, then go for it.

I do agree that Voice is important to the audience and the writer. I have not thought about the writer being uncomfortable in her own voice. But I do believe that finding one's voice is a worthy goal as it may add to sincerity or a lively ( life like?) quality.

Elbow says that the best way to be comfortable in one's own voice is to have a real/authentic audience which gives honest feedback. Apparently it is as hard to get honest feedback as it is to be honestly sincere. Although Lunsford may not agree with all of Elbows methods, she too is advocating honest feedback between graduate students as they collaborate on projects.