Basic writing, issues of correctness, and academic discourses oh my!!

As I reflect upon Patricia Bizzell's pieces centering around the concepts of basic writing, issues of correctness, and academic discourses; I reflect on the first three weeks of the semester, and how I've seen these same aspects of composition in the courses I currently teach. As an English 101 instructor I aim to teach my students about the 'correctness' that is necessary to succeed in basic writing, however, I have already seen some resistance to the information I am presenting to the class, which I feel is indicative of multiple cultures and the schools of thought my class is made up of. I agree with Bizzell as she speaks of student learning, and states that their "difficulties are attributed primarily to clashes between their home world views and the academic world view, and their home discourse communities' resources are acknowledged." (Bizzell 5)

While recognizing that my students immediate surroundings are going to impact the participation and success of the class, "I conclude by asserting that to prepare students now for success in school, it may no longer be necessary to inculcate traditional academic discourse. Rather, what is needed is more help for students in experimenting with discourse forms that mix the academic and non-academic [or what I have called 'hybrid'] forms of academic discourse."(Basic 5) I try to consistently provide my students with both (non)academic material to show them how both are pertinent to their understanding of basic and advanced writing. I'm presented new material each day that would benefit my class, and 'if I am going to do my job of preparing students for success in college, then, I cannot ignore these new forms of academic discourse' (Hybrid 8)

The most challenging aspect I've encountered when teaching my students, is finding the balance between the different types of material, and the most effective ways of teaching them. It becomes difficult, because in a way, I feel like I have to take myself out of my current discourse mindset and attempt to be in that of my students. Yet, even as I put my emphasis on correctness at the basic writing level, I want my students to be able to simply apply the different elements I present to them in the classroom to a multitude of options outside of the classroom, because at the end of the semester 'student skill and application still will be important.' (Basic 11)

It is becoming inevitable that integrating alternative discourses into the classroom is only a semester away. "With the diverse population, slowly but surely, come diverse discourses from people's various home communities" (Hybrid 11), which is why there seems to be such a call to attention regarding this topic. I can only hope that I'll stay as current as possible to adequately feed the young and impressionable minds I see in academia.