During the fall semester of 2003, students in Hillory Oakes's Responding to Writing course interviewed SLU faculty about the kinds of writing they assign and the writing skills they expect from their students. If you'd like to know what some of your teachers have in mind when they ask you to write response papers, in-class essays, or long research projects, check out some of the faculty interviews below.
Peter Bailey, English
If the writer is having a good time doing what she's doing, it's going to work....
Ed Boyd, Education
I can sum up my approach to writing like this: evidence of thinking deeply, critically, reflectively, and creatively....
Caroline Breashears, English
Good questions lead to good theses, and good theses lead to good essays....
Michael Farley, Music
I tend to go through twenty to twenty-three drafts....
Ronald Flores, Sociology
If you want your ideas to be heard, you better be a good writer and speaker....
Elizabeth Kahn, Fine Arts
It is important to use your own vocabulary and voice....
Valerie Lehr, Gender Studies
Constant revision is necessary and gaining more feedback is a must....
Artur Poczwardowski, Psychology
Writing, in his eyes, is a teaching and learning tool....