Blog #4- Inventing Your Style

Hello agian Everyone,

So, I've been reading Stephen Koch's The Modern Library Writer's Workshop, and have come across chapter 5: Inventing Your Style. I liked reading this chapter because of the of the general truths that he brings to light about the nature of one's style in writing. I agree with Koch that a writer's style takes many forms- corresponding to the type of writing that the writer is doing. Just like speaking, writing requires a person to take a different approach and a different voice according to the intent of the writing. Obviously, I wouldn't speak to a close friend the same way that I would speak to a job interviewer. I think that it is important to teach students that they, too, must develop different writing voices for the different types of writing that they do. So, I think that it becomes the job of the teacher not only to teach the student about the different types of writing, but the appropriate voice pattern that goes with each type of writing.

The example that comes into my mind are cover letters and resumes. If I were (which I will) teach a unit on writing cover letters and resumes, I would want to spend some time helping the students to understand the audience to which they are writing, and the voice they need to use with that audience. Before I ever began to teach student the format and techniques of writing a cover letter/resume, I would make sure that I had spent ample time going over voice and audience with them.

Well, these are my thoughts for today. So, until next time- Keep it classy Kent State!

-Sam P.