A little "cheese" maybe? Or in this case, granola?
Arriving at my fifth week in my class on writing center tutoring, I found myself confused by all the MANY theories out there about writing center pedagogy. There are all sorts of opinions bouncing around inside my head, some with which I agree and some with which I do not (and I realize this may change after beginning sessions on my own). However, how do I make sense of it all? How could so many theories form together for the greater good the writing center, especially when some seem so very different from others?
And then it hit me.
Each of those sources is like each of the individual ingredients found in my favorite granola bars (Clif's new Mojo bar, mountain mix or peanut butter pretzel flavor to be exact), and like those ingredients, when melted into one unified form they serve a greater good.
You see, there are ingredients in those bars that, individually, I do not care for—just as with some of the journal excerpts on writing center pedagogy floating around in my brain. However, when those ingredients that I would not eat alone on a normal basis (e.g., raisins, chocolate chips) are added to others that I happen to love (e.g., sesame seeds, pretzels, peanut butter flavoring), the sum of them form a unified whole that happens to delight my taste buds.
Similarly, I presume that as I take in all of the opinions of authors and let them simmer in my mind until they form a conglomerate of goodness, eventually all of the arguments will somehow complement each other enough to form a delightful whole. At least, this is my hope.
Postscript: Please let me know if this doesn't make sense, and really sounds more like an addiction to the new Clif bar versus an insightful analogy. They really are quite good!
And then it hit me.
Each of those sources is like each of the individual ingredients found in my favorite granola bars (Clif's new Mojo bar, mountain mix or peanut butter pretzel flavor to be exact), and like those ingredients, when melted into one unified form they serve a greater good.
You see, there are ingredients in those bars that, individually, I do not care for—just as with some of the journal excerpts on writing center pedagogy floating around in my brain. However, when those ingredients that I would not eat alone on a normal basis (e.g., raisins, chocolate chips) are added to others that I happen to love (e.g., sesame seeds, pretzels, peanut butter flavoring), the sum of them form a unified whole that happens to delight my taste buds.
Similarly, I presume that as I take in all of the opinions of authors and let them simmer in my mind until they form a conglomerate of goodness, eventually all of the arguments will somehow complement each other enough to form a delightful whole. At least, this is my hope.
Postscript: Please let me know if this doesn't make sense, and really sounds more like an addiction to the new Clif bar versus an insightful analogy. They really are quite good!
Hey Ronia,
ReplyDeleteI think I eat enough granola to understand your point. I've taken your granola bar approach all along regarding how to properly consume all the information we take in about consulting writers. The consultant needs to decipher the ingredients at hand (other practices/techniques) and determine what makes the best granola bar (own pedagogy) for their taste.
What is the new Clif Bar by the way?
I think this is a great post and I've felt some of the same issues. My foodie metaphor might go like this. I think for me, the theories that we read about are like plates of exotic food placed before me which I don't know how to eat. Do I use the fork and knife? Do I grab the salad fork or spoon? Spork fans? The theory is placed before me but I don't know what reference point I'm supposed to use to evaluate the theory. Basically.
ReplyDeleteI feel challenged with the digestion process.
Bruce, Thai used to really bother my stomach. My stomach has adjusted, though, over time.
ReplyDelete:)