Im seeing first hand what ken macrorie from telling writing, found in the norton book of composition studies classifies as engfish a term coined largely to explain the type of writing students do in an attempt to impress their teachers. The following article comes from ken macrorie s book telling writing, a fantastic book about composition pick it up if you have time. A tribute to ken macrorie, 19182009it is with profound sadness that we share with you news of ken macrorie s death. Explains the isearch model for student research, focusing on allowing students to pick their own topics. The poisoned fish by ken macrorie a reading response. No student would stop another on campus and say, i. Get the best deal by comparing prices from over 100,000 booksellers. The result of his search is 20 teachers, a collection of revealing profiles in which outstanding educators explain what works for them in the classroom and why. On using ken macrories a poison fish in writing classes. Telling writing by ken macrorie, 1976, hayden book co.
This third edition reaffirms ken macrorie s continuing commitment to young writers, as well as the perennial popularity of writing to be read. The poisoned fish one day a college student stopped a professor in the hall and said, i have this terrible instructor who says i cant write. The following article comes from ken macrories book telling writing, a fantastic book about composition pick it up if you have time. In the article from ken macrories book telling writing we are introduced to this concept of engfish. Ken s association with heinemannboyntoncook began more than a quarter century ago with the publication of telling writing, in which he asserted, good teaching in any field isnt a matter of employing gimmicks and choosing from. This third edition reaffirms ken macrories continuing commitment to young writers, as well as the perennial popularity of writing to be read.
Ken macrorie ken macrorie used books, rare books and new books. Author of searching writing, telling writing, uptaught, writing to be read, twenty teachers, four in depth, the isearch paper, the perspective writer, reader, and speaker ken macrorie open library donate. Good teaching in any field isnt a matter of employing gimmicks and choosing from a damnfool encyclopedia of tricks to play on students. On using ken macrories a poison fish in writing classes i remember the first time i. Ken macrorie passed away in las cruces, new mexico. At a time when the author was portrayed as solely a head, whitman is a portrayed fullbodied, shirt open at the neck, sleeves trolled up, head tilted lounging, loafing, relaxeda new image of the poet. The rare and exceptional teacherone who could teach absolutely anything to anybodyis what ken macrorie set out to find among teachers of many different subjects at many different levels. Why is telling writing, now in its fourth edition, still going stron. A language or a writing style that is developed as children grow up and are taught how to write. Summary of ken macrorie s book telling writing 910 words 4 pages. Perhaps as a result of over corrective measures when it comes to editing work, students have.
School has a way of socializing children, squishing the creative and vibrant minds they. Telling writing by macrorie, ken, 1918publication date 1976 topics english language, report writing. In another class ive been reading james joyce, so i wrote this little comment on the instructor in joyces style. It is, from his perspective, a poison of the english language. Each story is unique and fascinating, told without fanfare or hubris.
I think it is important to be writing this response at the end of my first college semester because it makes this a much more understandable and. This book steps outside the confines of a text book and beyond the structure of a manual for assembling words. Like all fine teachers, macrorie has remained a student of his subject, and this book is informed by fresh classroom discoveries. In this passionate book, ken macrorie lays the blame for classroom dissatisfaction on the faculty, epitomized by percival the computer, blind electronic enforcer of the academic cliches. For macrorie s own story of his growth as a teacher of writing, see uptaught uptaught. Sharpening by ken macrorie posted on january 28, 20 by doctorvoss. In ken macrories book, telling writing, i have a read an article called the poisoned fish.
Ken macrories answers this in his book, telling writing. Summary of ken macrorie s book telling writing bartleby. Ken macrorie books list of books by author ken macrorie. The following article comes from ken macrories book.
A socially responsible guide to the magic of writing and researching, was the first textbook written to teach ken macrories isearch paper. The main point of the article, in my opinion, was the technique students use to write for the teacher rather than themselves. A tribute to ken macrorie intervention fountas and. See all books authored by ken macrorie, including telling writing, and the isearch paper. This excerpt is from ken macrories book telling writing.
The poison fish from telling writing by ken macrorie one day a college student stopped a professor in the hall and said, i have this terrible instructor who says i cant write. Telling writing by ken macrorie 1985, hardcover for sale. A tribute to ken macrorie, 19182009it is with profound sadness that we share with you news of ken macrories death. Be read, one of the most important books ever written in the united states about the teaching of writing. The following article comes from ken macrories book, telling writing, one of the best books on composition ive ever read if you have time, buy it or get it from the library. By revising ones writings with these tips from macrorie, writing becomes more.
Yes, there are rules, but he teaches their spirit rather than their letter. The obituary was featured in las cruces sunnews on july 17, 2009. Why is telling writing, now in its fourth edition, still going strong in hundreds of colleges and universities. The name of this teacher is ken macrorie, and his books uptaught, writing to be read, telling writing, and the isearch paper are some of my favorites. Throughout the semester ill be referring to the term, engfish, so read this article carefully. Pure engfish undefiled, a tongue never spoken outside the walls. Solved the following article comes from ken macrories. Using more specific verbs is more descriptive and telling. He graduated from oberllin college in ohio and served in the army during wwii. The freewriting program presented in this book and illustrated with student writing samples emphasizes student writing which is alive and valuable and which is to be read by real persons, who respond. When you desire to obtain this by ken macrorie telling writing. He believes students are taught to fill the page, instead of actually writing a coherent sentence.
Telling writing by macrorie, ken and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Ken macrorie has served as editor of college composition and. Twenty teachers ken macrorie oxford university press. The poisoned fish one day a college student stopped a professor in the hall and said, i have this. I search paper revised edition of searching writing. None of us like engfish, thats for surenot writing it, reading it, or trying to edit it. In its fourth decade and third edition, it is now published by boyntoncook. Writing to be read is the high school version of telling writing.
Writing to be read by ken macrorie 19860101 by ken macrorie jan 1, 1656. The following article comes from ken macrories book telling writing. Ken macrorie writes about something that i related to way too easily in his book, telling writing. New material in this second edition focuses especially on these points, in three chapters. As a writer and editor, his insightful question at the most pivotal time in the story enabled a jewish holocaust resistance fighter to unleash the traumatic moment that he. He speaks about a type of writing called engfish, or english that a teacher would want to read from a students perspective. It describes typical high school and college writing. The first chapter of his book, titled the poison fish, immediately shows the reader macrories opinion of engfish.
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