Forward: Torgovnick

At first, I had trouble understanding the point of Torgovnick's article.  I was unsure of what Malinowski's penis had to do with critical writing but everything was cleared up for me when she made the statement, "I felt that I was no longer writing for any committees-I was writing for myself.".  This made it clear to me that she was having trouble breaking free from the clean-cut structure of "traditional" writing.  She wanted to be heard and read, not for the sake of someone else's project, but for the sake of enjoyment and knowledge as well.  I am sure everyone who has ever considered themselves a writer has felt this way at some point.  I know for a fact that those who hate writing do whatever they have to and follow all guidelines just to get by.  Those who actually care about their audience want to meet them halfway.  They want to reach out to them in a way that makes them WANT to actually read what they have to say. Nothing is better than an active and interested audience.  The trick is to appeal to them in a manner that keeps them engrossed with your words.  I have this exact same problem.  I have always felt confined by standards set for me when it comes to written assignments.  In high school we were never given any written freedom.  We were handed a topic and told how to construct the paper and if it was not done "correctly", you received a bad grade.  How is this a learning technique?  You are stripping students of their individuality and unique thought process.  An educator who enforces their strict margins takes away a student's voice and creates yet another individual who will never consider themselves a writer because its boring or too strict.  As a future educator, I want to increase the love and interest in writing.  I want my students to express themselves in the written language and LOVE it.  Who knows how many thoughtful or groundbreaking written works the world has missed out on because students gave up on writing to inform, discuss or entertain?