Inventing the University

“Inventing the University”
By, David Bartholomae

1. What does Bartholomae mean when he says that students must “invent the university” when they write in college?

When writing in college, Bartholomae uses the term, “invent the university” to emphasize the cliché between students and the people they must become. He shows that in order for a student to become ‘one’ with their class they must become a professional in the class; especially when writing. Students must learn how to speak and the demeanor of their classes, for example Economics, and become an economist. He says that students must take advantage of the language of the class and try to be creative about the class. He also suggests that students should use 'jargon' to their advantage!

2. What does Bartholomae suggest is a way for students to become “insiders” within academic discourse?

In order for a student to become “insiders” within their academic discourse, Bartholomae suggests that they must be “comfortable with their audience,” and they must “mimic its language, find compromise between idiosyncrasy, a personal history, and the requirements of convention, the history of a discipline.” Also, a student must learn to speak the language of that course and be bold about it. Moreover, they must conform to the nature and the already established institute and be permissive enough to have a, “special right to speak.”

3. Summarize some of the differences between the two examples of student writing that Bartholomae examines, and Bartholomae’s opinion of these examples.

Essay One
A young man changed the way he wore his socks and his shoes for their football game. Because a lot of the other players liked how the socks and shoes were, they changed the way they wore their socks and tennis. Even fans asked why they changed because it looked very good. The author feels when a person lets his imagination loose he is not afraid to express it. Bartholomea does not feel this paper is an “elegant paper.” He feels like the discourse is a natural one and the entire paper was from another person’s idea.

Essay Two
This author was one that was interested in music. She purchased a musical instrument and eventually began playing music. She began writing and creating pieces of her own music but realized that her work wasn’t one that she created. It was all influenced by the music she used to listen to all along. She was often times inspired by songs that she loved or songs that were found on the radio. She stated that creativity is a process and in most cases involves a “small creation” if you like. She stressed that the less experienced tend to allow less originality and the more experienced demands real originality. Bartholomae feels like this is a particularly successful essay that uses a certain vocabulary and how she makes reference to her own language and to the language of others.

Check out this site for more HOT topics: http://www.omgwatsnext.blogspot.com/