Regarding Freshman Composition

What is Freshman Composition?

        We were given an idea in class this week that I've been pondering for a few days now and finally have the time and proper thought to post. What is Freshman Composition? Now, everyone has a different view of how it should be classified and how it should be taught. Based on the readings that we've had in the past month and my own personal thoughts on the process I'll try to publish my thoughts here as organized ramblings.

        First, I think that lumping in Composition with Literature and the broader spectrum of English is a necessary evil. Composition is more about teaching and learning to write, yes, but at the same time a good solid base in reading literature or any kind of writing is necessary to spark the Composition fire inside of a student who is willing to learn. There have been many discussions on the practice/theory split, which in my opinion is not a split at all, and how it affects the field as it is today. I think there should be a healthy balance between the practice and the theory of Composition in the classroom because one cannot really exist without the other. You cannot have a practice without some sort of grounding in theory and theory cannot operate on its own independent of practice. Can a teacher favor one over the other? Sure. However, no teacher goes in to a classroom with no knowledge, however small it may be, of theory. 

        Second, I do not believe that Composition is a "service" course. It should not be regarded as the grunt work of English or any discipline. The reason that it is instituted and required by every major is because it is a core component to any human to be able to express themselves freely. In order to be a functioning voice in a society the ability to write and communicate efficiently and clearly is an absolute must. All of the engineers who think that they will never need these writing skills, even basic ones, are flailing in the professional market because they cannot write a simple email to their boss without sounding juvenile or flat. In a world that is increasingly turning to words and media to help communication these skills are more important than ever. Technology does not stop because people cannot use it effectively. The ones who embrace the new forms of communication, which are increasingly textual, become successful and the others wonder what is hampering their trajectory. The Composition course is a vital part of becoming a well rounded person and contributing to society as a whole.

        Overall, these two major points stick out in my mind as a reason for the Composition course to stay around and to stay attached to English as a whole. I think that it is becoming apparent that the field is needed more than ever within our society with blossoming technology and I think that if Composition were to disappear we may end up like the vision of the world in Mike Judge's Idiocracy.