Linguistic Accuracy is Important but It’s Only One of Many Things Multilingual Writers Need to Learn

Insight #1 from reading Dana Ferris's Treatment of Error in Second Language Student Writing:

Dana Ferris argues:

While we should not neglect attention to student accuracy and clarity in writing, we also should not give it MORE attention than it deserves.  Accuracy concerns should at all times be carefully balanced with development of students’ ideas and rhetorical strategies as well as consideration of the (in) effectiveness of their own writing processes (47).

This isn’t news to me but it helps to have Dana Ferris, an L2 writing scholar, emphasize the balance that writing teachers need to strike with multilingual writers between helping their students improve their knowledge of English but also their ability to negotiate rhetorical aspects of writing—not to mention the actual writing process.  

I think that where she says this in the book is important, too-right after a section where she discusses the need for L2 writing teachers to learn both about SLA (second language acquisition) and composition theory.  Ferris believes that teachers need this breadth of knowledge to figure out where discussions of grammar, vocabulary, and editing fit into their overall course goals and into their work with indivividual writers.  

Still, figuring out this balance isn’t easy and it’s something I’m still working on in my courses.  However, Ferris challenges me to not ignore the issue but to grapple with it both as a teacher and as a writing center professional (who both works with writers one-on-one but also coaches tutors to do the same).  This in turn is a challenge I hope to bring to my colleagues in the English department.