Delpit’s Influence on My Teaching Style

I am not a teacher, but question one interests me. After reading the article, I did not get the impression that Delpit wants solely a skills or process based form of literature instruction. I think that she simply wants to connect writing with how it is used in our society and in our culture of power. I agree with this perspective and feel that it is applicable to all students, not only those that are poor and non-white. I feel that I have had a lot of process type instruction that wasn’t constructive. Here are some elements I would include in my hypothetical writing class:

1. The students would be introduced to writing other than poetry and creative writing. Writing is everywhere and includes work such as cookbooks, travel guides, and lab reports.
2. The current form of modern written English would be used a tool expand creative writing. This is important. I think that anyone who writes ought to know the conventions of the culture of power. If a person chooses to expand their writing by bending the rules or using a form more consistent with their culture, that is fine. The basic framework should still be in every person’s mind after completion of their education. It is very hard to learn proper grammar and communication by reading Shakespeare’s sonnets (which are indeed beautiful) and writing similar poems.