James Berlin

James Berlin wrote "Contemporary Composition: The Major Pedagogical Theories". In this text he discusses the process of teaching composition and the complexities that come with that. Berlin explained, "To teach writing is to argue for a version of reality, and how it can be communicated. To teach writing is to argue for a version of reality, and the best way of knowing and communicating it - to deal, as Paul Kameen has pointed out, in metarhetorical realm of epistemology and linguistics" (766). This is a thoughtful insight that shows a significant aspect of composition. Berlin continues with this thought process, and delves into the importance of a teachers role when instructing students on writing. He points out that when teachers offer contradictory advice it can be detrimental to the students. Making them confused and frustrated with their writing. He examines Aristotle's idea that in order to gain knowledge we have to use data from sense impressions. Then reality is demonstrated with the use of language that describes the data that has been gathered. It is my opinion that htis is an interesting way to describe the process of us gathering information. I personally haven't ever thought of how my senses have affected my writing.