9. Balancing Freedom and Structure: The Paradox of Boundaries
Becoming a Teacher Who Writes - Let Teaching be your Writing Muse - Nancy S. Gorrell
Nancy S. Gorrell [+]
English teacher and poet
Description
The thesis of Chapter 9 centers on a paradox: “confronting limits for the human personality actually turn out to be expansive. Limiting and expanding go together.” Chapter 9 demonstrates the “balancing act” of freedom and structure in writing through a series exercises. The author offers “Freedom in Writing” exercises (free writing, flow) and “Boundaries in Free Writing” exercises (non-stop writing, interrupted journal writing). The author also offers “Boundaries in Fiction Writing” (expansion exercise) and “Boundaries in Poetry Writing” (closed form poetry). In “What I Learned,” the author affirms the value of balancing freedom and boundaries as a guiding principle for classroom norms, lessons, and strategies. Chapter 9 concludes with Interdisciplinary Applications for Teachers and Students and a “Balancing Freedom and Structure in Your Discipline” writing prompt.