English Composition as a Happening

First off, I should start by saying that this piece of writing was difficult for me to read because I wasn't really comprehending about half of it but this is what I have pulled out of it. And let me just say, what I did actual understand I mostly agreed with.


In "English Composition as a Happening," I beleive that Charles Deemer is trying to tell us, as the reader, that the education system is flawed. Over the corse of the piece he wants to pursuade us, as the readers, that students should not be talked at or basically have the teachers ideas of a certain subject be implanted into the students head, but rather the students should be the ones putting out the effort to discuss their view on the topic. This system helps students form their own views, helping the present, not just the future. Deemer also beleives that the students should not have a change in beleif or opinion just because the teacher does not agree. Education in Deemers eyes is an experience. It is not something that you just listen to and write down, but actually forming ideas of your own. English Composition is a corse that Deemer feels would be a great start for a happening and that it, as he says would be a proper introduction to the possibilites of the university, a preview of what the university is about. In paragraph six, he says, "Yet in at least one respect, the composition course is a university maverick because it has no real subject content. Logic, literature, linguistics, political science, philosophy -- these and other disciplines crop up in the course but as subject matter certainly they are covered with more rigor in their home departments. Clearly, then, English Composition is a methods course, concentrating not on a subject matter but on ways to get at and write about any subject matter." A happening is a situation meant to be considered as art, has lack of narrative, frequently seeks to involve the audience in some way, and has room for improvisation. It shows you your limits, it forces you to think for yourself instead of being forced to beleive something, you allows creativity, gives you experience, it allows us to make goals and find out what interests and motivates us. So in all, Deemer has a valid point that English Composition as a Happening would make a proper introduction to the possibilities of the university because it would allow students to see how they think, set goals for themself, get involve, learn what they know, pull themself out of their comfort area, and so much more on many levels and in a variety of subject area.

The Way the Deemer supports his position:

• includes many quotes from a variety of different writers, especially ones in education
• shows his views on where he sees flaws, along with proposed solutions that he feels would better the system
• gives specif examples and tells why

[Overall, Deamer shows multiple views and multiple sources of valid supporting quotes and information, including his own.]