Tim Carignan

Professor Howard

WRT 205

2/18/03

Introduction: Why writing? Why is writing a requirement here at Syracuse University? Who is to say that writing should be required? These are all questions that my group and I were sent out to answer. We were answering questions in ways I have never done before. We interviewed professors whom I have never heard of and ask them questions that we came up with as a group; questions ranging from how they personally felt about the writing requirement to who has the authority to set this requirement. I feel that my group and I did very well in coming up with answers to these questions and could not have done as well without the help of Professor Howard and her colleagues.

Summary: We spoke to a few of Professor Howard’s colleagues and co-workers who are in the field of writing, literature, Arts and Sciences, Administration and English. I personally interviewed Professor Charles Watson, a professor of English, and Professor Louise Phelps of the writing program. Other members of my group interviewed Stewart Thau, the Dean of Arts and Sciences, and Deborah Freund, the Vice Chancellor of the university. The interviewees were quite excited by the questions that we had to ask and spoke to the best of their ability on the subject of why writing is required at Syracuse University.

Discussion: I interviewed two very educated and knowledgeable people on a topic that was of the utmost importance to them as professionals. These people where trying to best answer the question as to why writing is required at Syracuse. Charles Watson spoke of the Gates Committee, which had an important role in starting and revising the writing program at SU. When asked the question of what is the reason for taking writing at SU? He explained, “In the 1980s Bob Gates, of the Gates Committee, found that the composition program was not up to date on the best ways of helping student’s better write at the college level.” He stated that, “Writing allows us to be mentally agile. I can’t think of anything more important to your success than writing.” When asked the same question Louise Phelps answered with, “Writing helps us learn, interpret information, acquire and make knowledge, and is a rhetorical way of communicating what we do know.” In reading these two answers one can see the difference in opinion that is presented by each of these professors. Daniel Archer, my group mate, interviewed the Vice Chancellor Deborah Freund and asked her thoughts and feelings on the requirement of writing at SU. She responded with, “Students can’t write well when they come to school. So students must learn how to write well, succinctly. Students also can’t write well using correct grammar. Writing is the most important skill to acquire. For example, in business the ability to write and communicate will be more important the higher up in the organization you get. The ability to communicate is very important.” Watson also spoke of the importance of writing saying simply that, “Writing is how we acquire literacy. [It] is a vital cornerstone course for students of all abilities.”

In trying to find why writing is required at Syracuse University we also looked at who has the authority to set such a requirement. Charles Watson replied, “The faculty of each individual college has the authority to require writing or not. The dean has the final say, but will not act without the input of the faculty.” Professor Phelps stated that, “There is no University requirement; all the schools and colleges have there own curriculum requirements with approval by the university. The decision of the writing lie in the faculty’s hands not the administrators.” Stewart Thau answers with, “The faculty of the college set the rule; the faculty not the administrators.” And Vice Chancellor Freund says the same thing, almost verbatim. For complete interviews and interview questions refer to Appendixes A, B, and C.

Conclusion: In trying to answer the question, why are we required to take writing at Syracuse University, one can see that these people we interviewed, no matter how different, agreed on the importance of writing and the importance of writing well at the college level. Whether we think we can write or not there is always room to better our own understandings of writing and our own abilities to write in order to continue to grow both in knowledge and in skill.

We can see that, though opinions differ, it is the general consensus that the reasoning for taking writing at SU is not to punish students, not to make up bull shit classes in order to fill a student’s schedule, but to prepare those students for the careers that lie ahead for them. I have learned that every class I participate in at Syracuse University is of some importance to me in graduating and graduating with a degree. Writing is not any different. It is important to our lives as undergraduates, graduates, and soon to be the next generation of white collar, and blue collar workers. That is why writing is required at SU, for us.

Works Cited

Freund, Deborah. Interview with Daniel Archer. 11 February 2003.

Phelps, Louise. Personal Interview. 7 February 2003.

Thau, Stewart. Interview with Shannon House. 10 February 2003.

Watson, Charles. Personal Interview. 7 February 2003.