The Essential Don Murray: Lessons from America's Greatest Writing Teacher

256 Pages·2009·22.892 MB·English

by  Donald M. Murray

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BOYNTON/COOK
LessofnrsoA mm ericGar'esa tWersitt Tienagc her
j
DonM urramyi'sss iwoanst od emystiwfyr itbiynr ge veaalsi ng
mucahs p ossiabbloeut thh ea biptrso,c esasnedps r,a ctoifc es
writTehribsso. o cka rroinhe isws o rakn ds howtshe ev oluotfi on
hitsh inkbiycn ogl lehcitmsio nsigtn flupeinetciaeaswsl e lals
unpubliesshseaedyn st,r ies dfaryobmo dorhkai,ws ianngds ,
numereoxuasm polfeh sif sa mohuasn douts.
KEYW ORKOSN W RITIINNOG N EC OLLECTION
WritaisPn rgo ceHsoswW: r itFiinngId tsOs w nM eaninTgh Lei stening Eye:
Reflectointo hnWesr itCionngfe renTceea chtihnOegt hSeerl Thfe: W riter'5
FirRseta deWrr iBteefo rWer itiWnrgi tBiandglt yoW riWteel Sle:a rching
fotrh Ien struLcitniAev lWelr itIisAn ugt obiogarnadpm hoyr e
DonM urrayo n• ••
TEACHIWNRGI TIANSPG R OCENSOST P RODUCT
"Insotfet aeda chfiinngiw srhietdwi esn hgo,u tledau cnhf inwirsihteaidnn dg .
gloirniy t usn finishWeedwn oesrswki. t lha nguianagc et iWoesn h.a wrieto hu r
studtehnet sc oen�tciintuoeamflce hnoto soinnwego ridn stoefaa ndo ther, of
searcfhotirhn oegn ter uweo r.Td hiissn oatq uestioofcn o rroeric ntcr oercotf,
etiquoerct utset Tohmii.ssa m attoeffr ah ri ghiemrp ortance."
UNDERSTANTDHIEWN RGI TIPNRGO CESS
"Thper ocoefms ask ing mweiatwnhri intglt aenng ucaagnneo b te u ndersbtyo od
lookbiancgk wfarroadmf inipsahgePedr. o cesnso btce ia nnf errepdr odfurcotm
anymotrheaa np icga bne i nfefrrroaems d a usaIigtsp e o.s sihbolwee.vf eourrst, o
foltlhopewr ocfesosrw afrrdob ml apnakg teof indarlaa fntld e asronm etohfi ng
whahta ppens."
KNOWITNHGE W RITWEIRT HIN
"Thelrasel wamyasg iintc h fiosmr e a,n wdo ndbeerc aIud sone o ktn owwh aIat m
goitnogs auyn tiiitlss aiTdh wer iwtietrih sai lnw aays st ranwgietargh ,r iant .o p
haatn ldo nqgu,i ficnkg ewrhsi pcrho ducew awsnh otatht e breef oIsr hea.nl elv er
know mtahgimisa< n w elall,t hohuehg ahbs e ewni tmhef osri xyteya Hrese .n tices
mew ithhic sa pafcoisrtu yrr ipse."'
DOINTGH EW ORKO FW RITING
"'Wriipst riinmgan roaitm l ayt toeftr a leonfdt e.d icaotfvi iosnio.ofv n o.c ab,u lary
ofs tybluest.i mpmlayt toae fsr i ttTihnwegr .ii tasep re rswohnow rites."
Fonre a60r lyye a•r s• wasa t ireelxes.psl ore,,a ncadhd rvooncofia ctlee r.
writwerrista.in ntdgh t.ee acohfiw nrgi t"iWneg c.ao raec ehnesc,o urdaeg...eerlso,p ers
creatoofer nsv iroinnmweh niotcuhssr t udceanentx sp ertihewenr cietp i,nogcf es.so r
themsehlewv reosit.n1e" 9 7T2h.r otuhgyehe aarnsovd e rn umerousa cbaodoekmsi.c
artincelwessp.ca opleurcm lnass. shraoonmd owu,tistc.1o nngf eraennwdca esrc.mo llegial
converstahtoiuosonafssn .td usd ewnrtsi.ta enrtdse .a cbheenresfi ftreoDdmo nw"osr k
incluthdviiosnl gu emdei"tsho ifrsrs i.e nds anadtt hcUeon lilveeoarfNgs euiweHt say m p­
-�t,'_.��, -.,.,
shire, an\d Millmioorcneos n ttiobn eunee bfiytt h e
widcei rocfhl iiesn flueonvectrehf e i eolfwd rsi twirnigti.in nsgt rjuocutrinoa lism
JIISSBB1NN3"-�09: 17- 088:"6 07l1-0896-76001�90--640 110l-2 1lij�1m1�1rn1�r1�r
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Officeasna dg etnhtrso utghhweoo urtl d
© 200b9yB oyntonP/uCboloiIksn hce.r s,
Alrli grhetsse Nrovp eador.ftt hbioso mka yb er eproidnau ncfyeo dro mrb y
aneyl ectorrmo encihca mneiacniasnl,c luidnifnogr msattoiraoannrgd ee t rieval
systweimtsh,po eurtm iisnws riiotfnir notgmhp eu bliesxhceberypa,r t e viewer,
whom ayq uobtreip eafs sianagr eesv iew.
Theed itaonprdus b liwsihstehotr h atnhko wsheo hgaevnee rgoiuvspelenyr mis­
sitoonr eprbionrtr omwaetde rial:
Chap1t:"e Tre aWcrhi taisPn rgo cNeosPtsr odbuycD to"n aMludr rfaryoT mh e
LeaflFeat1l,9l 7 p2a,g 1e1s- 1P4u.b libsyth hNeeed w E nglAasnsdo coifa tion
TeachoefEr nsg lRiesphr.ib nypt eerdm iosfts hipeou nb lisher.
Acknowlefodrgb moernrtosw edc omnattoiennpr u.vie ia ili .
LibroafCr oyn gCraetsasl oging-Diant-aP ublication
Thees seDnotMniu arlr :la eys sfroonmAs m erigcrae'awstr eistttie nagc/D h oenr
Murr;ea dyi tTehdo mbNayes w kainrLdki Cs.aM il;la efrt erbwyCo hridp
ScanPloaynn,It nesrt. i tute
p.cm.
Inclbuidbelsi ogrreafpehriecnacle s.
ISBN-91738:- 0-86709-600-2
ISBN-01-08:6 709-600-4
1.Englpihsihl ologayn-tdSe taucdh2yi.E n ngg.ll iasnhg uage-Rhetoric­
Stuadnytd e ach3i.Rn egp.ow rrti tinga-nStdte uadcyh4 i.Jn ogu.r nalism­
Stuadnytd e ach5iJ.no gu.r nalism-AIuN.te hwokriTsrhhkoi,mp a.s .
IIM.ilLlieCsr.a,I IMIu.r rDaoyn,aM lodr is1o9n2,4 -2006.
PE26.M8270E0898
80.80'4 207-dc22 2009033950
EditMoaru:rS au llivan
ProducVtiicKokanis: a bian
Covdeers iLgiAns.:aF owler
TypeseKtitAmer rn:e y
ManufacSttueBrveiern ngi:e r
Prinitnte hUden iStteadot fAe mse roinac cai dp-afpreere
131 21 11 00 9V P1 2 3 4 5
To DonaGlrda ves
Deafrri eonfDd o nM urraanyad n i nspeidruicnagt or
whoc hantgheleda ndsocfwa rpieti innsgt ruction­
anodp endeodofo rrsu sa ll
Contents
Acknowledgvmue nts
Introducitxi on
1 TeaWcrhi taisanP gr ocNeosPtsr oduc1t
2 WritaisPn rgo cHeoswWs r:i tFiinngId tOssw n
Meanin6g
3 WriBteef Worriet in2g8
4 ThDea yboo3k9
5 ListetnoWi rnigt in5g5
6 Voiocfte h Tee xt7 2
7 GettUinndgte hrLe i ghtn7i4n g
8 TeachtihOnetg h SeerlT fhW:er itFeirr'sst
Reade8r7
9 LikOer weElsls,a OynienB'ges s t9 8
V
Contents
10 WritBiandgtl oWy r iWteel Sle:a rcfhotirhn eg
InstrLuicntei1 v0e1
11 AW ritCearn'oRsne visi1t2e0d
12 NotfeosDr i scuPsasuiMloa nt:s uCdrae'ast ive
NonfiCcltaisos1n 2 1
13 InteRrenvailsA iP orno:co efDs iss cove1r2y3
14 Don-StthiCelo lpE yd ito1r4 6
15 ThLei steEnyieRn:eg f leocntt ihWoern ist ing
Confere1n4c8e
16 DonD rawDionng 157
17 OnWer itSeerc'rse 1t5s8
18 WheWraes IH eadWehde InL eft1?7 1
19 AW ritGeero'gsr aOpnhWeyr :ia ttWe orr k 176
20 NotoenNs a rraTtiimvee 1 96
21 TwoP oems2 00
22 AlWlr itIiAsnu gt obiogr2a0p5h y
23 IS tWialilft ot rh Seh eteoMt osv e 218
24 ThIem portofaM nackeiS nngo w 225
AfterbwyCo hridSp c anla2n3 1
Origin2s3 5
WorCkist ed2 37
Vt
Acknowledgments
WEW ISTHO T HANCKH ISPC ANLADNO,N 'GSO ODF RIEANNDD
WRITIN(;
collewahgosu peo,n soourvrei dts oit thE eu gePnaet teLrisborna ry
att hPeo ynItnesrt aintadul twsero o ttheae f terfwotorhr bidos o k.
Wea ltshoa Cnokl leDcetvieolno LpimbernaJtre iaWoanon d a nd
LibrDairrye DcatvoSirhd e dodfPe ony nwtheohr e,l puesfid n d
whawten eedferdot mhm eo rteh a1n2b 0o xtehsma atk uept he
DonaMl.dM urrCaoyl leacttt hiIeon ns tiWteou wtese p.e cial
thantkoJs e awnh,op uloluectdo luhmannsd,o auntmdso ,rf er om
thceo llebcetfiwooeran er ritvome adk,oe u jro eba sSioemre.h ow,
shmea natgoefi dne dx acwthlawytew erleo okfionrg.
Wed eepalpyp retchiweaa tyHe e inemhaasnsun p potrhtiesd
projfercottmhb ee ginTnhioenr gi.gi imnpaeclta umfser oLme igh
Peaaknehd e sru cceMsasuorSrau llhievlapsnee tdeh per oject
throAubgbhHy.e iamn Vdi cKkais abdiitadhn eu isrum aals terful
joobfsm anagtihpnerg o duecntdai,now dne w erfeo rtufnoart e
LisFao wlaerrt'wfsou rlok nt hceo vdeers iWgean l.sw oa ntto
thaSnakr Gaihb baonnSdsa biFnoaof toehr e lpgietnthg me a nu­
scrriepa.td y
Vtt
Creldiincteo sn tifnruopem.id i :
Chap2t:"e Wrr iatsPi rnogc HeoswWs r:i tFiinnIgdt( ss MeanibnyDg o"n ald
)w11
MurrfaryoE mi gAhptp roatcoTh eeasc Choimnpgu seidtiibtuyTe1 id1m ,o Rt.h y
DonovaanBnde W.n McClelCloapnydr.i1 g9h8tP0©u. b libsyth hNeead t ional
CounocfTi ela cohfEe nrgsl Riesphr.ib nypt eerdm iosfts hipeou nb lisher.
Chap3t:"e Wrri Bteef Worriet biynD go"n aMludr rfaryo( :m u lC/oemgpeo sition
anCdo mmuniDceacteimo1bn9e,7Cr 8o .p yri1g9h7bt8yt© h Nea tiCoonuanl­
ciolfTe achoefEr nsg lRiesphr.ib nypt eerdm ission.
Chap8t:"e Tre acthhOietn hgSe erTl fheW: r itFeirrR'sesta dbeyDr o"n ald
MurrfaryoC mo llCeogmep osaintCdio omnm uniMcaayt1 i9o8nC2,o. p yright
© 198b2yt hNea tiCoonuanloc fTi ela cohfEe nrgsl Riesphr.ib nypt eerdm ission.
Chap1t3e":rI ntReervniaAslP i roonc:De isssc obvyeD royn"aM ludr rfaryo m
ReseoanrC cohm posingo-fDP eopianrtetsdu irbteyCe, hd a rRl.Ce oso paenrd
LeOed eClolp.y ri1g9h7Pt8u©.b libsyth hNeead t iCoonuanloc fTi ela cohfe rs
EnglRiesphr.ib nypt eerdm iosfts hipeou nb lisher.
Chap1t5e":rTh eL istEeynReie:nfl ge cotnti hoWenr si tCionngf erbeyn ce"
DonaMludr rfaryoC mo llCeogmep osaintCdio omnm uniSceapttieo1mn9b,7e 9r.
Copyr©i 1g9h7bt9yt hNea tiCoonuanloc fTei alc hoefEr nsg lRiesphr.ib nyt ed
perm1ss1on.
Chap1t7e":rO nWer itSeerc'rbsey Dt osn"aM ludr rfaryoC mo llCeogmep osition
anCdo mmuniMcaayt1 i9o8Cn6o,.p yri1g9h8bt6yt© h Nea tiCoonuanloc fi l
TeachoefEr nsg lRiesphr.ib nypt eerdm ission.
Chap2t2e":rA Wrlilt iInAsgu tobiobgyrD aopnhaMylu"dr rfaryoC mo llege
ComposaintCdio omnm uniFceabtri1uo9an9r,C1 yo. p yri1g9h9bt1yt© h e
NatiCoonuanloc fTi ela cohfEe nrgsl Riesphr.ib nypt eerdm ission.
"TheD aybo"oLki"s;t teoWn riintgi" nVgo"oi;fct ehTe e x"tG"e;t Utnidnteghr e
Lightn"iLniOgkr"ew; eE lsls,a OynienB'ges s "tWr"i;t Biandgtl oWry i tWeel l:
SearcfhotirhnI egn strLuicnt"eiA"Wv ;re i tCearn'Rosen v is"iNtoetfdeo"sr;
DiscuPsasMuialot ns:u Cdrae'asNt oinvfiec Ctliaos"nsD "o;n -tShtCeio lply
Edit"oWrh"eWa;rs eI H eadWehdeI nL eft"?AW" r;i tGeero'gsr aOpnhey :
WriattWoe rrk "";N otoenNs a rraTtmiiev""e;M inMnaieCe o oakP so em";
"BaRcokw S,i xGtrha d"eW"a;i fotrit nhSgeh eteoMt osv e""Th;eI mportance
ofM akiSnngo wu"s ebdyp ermiosfts hiPeoo ny nItnesrt itute.
Vltl
Introduction
Yosuh anloll o ntgaektreh iantsg esc oonrtd h ihradn ndo,r
lootkh outghehey oefst hdee ando,fr e oendt hsep ectres
inb ooks,
Yosuh anlollt o otkh romuyge hy eesi tnhoetrr,a kteh ings
fromme ,
Yosuh allilst toae lsnli daensfid l ttehref mr oymo urself.
-WalWth itm"aSno,on fMg y self"
IFD ONM URRAHYA DB EENA BLTEO H ANGA ROUNAD COUPLOEF
montahftse rd ehaiitnsDh e cembehre w 2o0uh0la6dv,b e e egnr at­
ifibeyhd o wm ucwhr itiictna glf loerdTt hhe.wr eert eho ef ficial
obituoafcr oiuerbssu,aet l, hs uon drofec dosn tritbotu htweie obn­s
sitofet shU en iveorfNs eiwHt aym psjhoiurren parloigsrma m and
thPeo ynItnesrt iHtewu atasec .h araacg tiealrni,tt ,e lraarlgleyr
thanf olmria fnoeyfu; sh ew atsh meo st ppuerbwsleoik ncn eawn,
egottoib sest u rbeuo,tn weh om adheil sia fnewd r iting processes
soa vaitloua sbH.lis est ocraileulspoe udor w nH.io sb seswsiitohn
writsitnigm uulsta otp eudt woonpr adps(e orsr c reAenndh) e.
offetrheeidsn ev ittaoet vieornysfo rnowemr, i toentr hsBe o ston
Glotbose c hlouonlac tht enwdhaosn attishd ew ye rien teriens ted
writ(ihwneog u ilndv artiaaktbehl eayid rd reasnssdee nstd h eam
pacokfea tr tiacc oluedpsal yels a tGerra)sd.t udoersn itxsgt rha d­
erisdt,i dmna'tt.tI ewtra psr obanboel xya ggewrhaetRnio oyn
PetCelrao rftk h Peo ynter Inhsit"miA tmuetregi rcceaaa'ltsle esdt
writtienagc her."
Thtei tolfte h ciosl lepcltaoiynots nh d eo ubmleea noifn g
esseInnto insaeel n.ws eec ,o nfidmeankttelh cyel atihmDa otn ald
Murrawyr'isti iesns gs efnotarilw alhl oa rien terients hwtere idt ­
inpgr ocNeoso sn.se t udtihweerd i tpirnogca esos bss esassi vely
ix
Introduction
Murrdaiyad n,nd o o nwer oatbeo iuattse loquaennidtn lcyi sively.
Hivse rlyu ci,wd eif teyemla,yh avcea usseodmc eo ntemporary
schotloda irmsi tnhiiesn ht elwloerctkth iuarsate l p reisnte hnetseed
essaWey hso.pt eh tahtci osl lewcitalillol anon we wg eneroaft ion
writtienagca hneadrs sp iwrriinttgeoa r psp rebcoittahhtu eet ility
andde potfDh o nw'osr Wke.a lbseol itehavah ete alrtehrye ading
ofh iwso rwki elslt ahbilssii sghn iafitact ainmwcehe e hneh abse en
marginbaytl hifieze eloddfc ompostihthaietho enl pcerde aant e,
exclutshhiaeotf n ek lete inntl hyle a dsetc aofdh eil si Ifnoe n.ie n fa­
mourse jehcewt aicsor ni tfiocbrie zitenodg"o M urrayesque."
Int hlea 1t9e8 J0asm Beesr pluiftno rwaat raodxn omoyf
composrihteitoionnwr hiichcsech l aitmheeadat cr hh ethoarasi c
taciidte oloogfyt-ueannns poskeoetfpn o liotriiceanlt ations­
thhaetw amsa kienxgp lTihcriotau.s g ehl ercetaidvoiefMn ugr ­
rayw'osrh ke,c lashsiiamfis ae dnE xpresswiiotanhf i oscotuns,
thien nreera olfti htweyr iatneadrd ,i srefgowarir ddse orc rieaall ­
itiTehsie.n teinnsdei viodfue axlpirsems ssioto hnaeir sgmu,m ent
wencta,u sitetobd e p olitiinceaflf(leaycon td cudha alt rogm ea ke
agaisnosmte wohnoeh awdo naP uliPtrzifezoreer d itworriita­l
ingI)no. n vee rsoifto hnti asx moynh,oe c laiMmuerdr waayas
Platobneicsahtui sbsee liinae nfi nnreera ltihwetr yi ctoeurl d
somehcoown sMuulrtr.fa oyu tnhdci rsi tsiocb iasfmfle ivnegn,
incomprethhehanetns eivbrelerea r,le lsyp otnoid tCe.ad l lhiinmg
aP latioasnl iistltti clkaeel alg ianrgda ogoerr e paiarnam natni ­
nomian-pruonbtarbbuuleity,na ncya sneop ta rticruellaer­ly
vanttot hweo rhkes eotustt od o.
Whetnh tiasx onwoamfisyr psrto pomsaenodyf,u sf eclotn fi­
dentth aantfy a riera doifMn ugr r(aoytr h oet hienrt shc iast e­
gorwyo)u sludr uenldye rtmhitena ex oynU.o nmfortuBneartleilny
provaic doendv esnhioernttfh ocaron ndc epttuhafiele ilazdni,dn g
thtee rsmt uIcitkbs .e yotnhsdec oopfte h iinst rodtuomc atkieo n
af urlels phoenrsbeeuw, te b elitehvaare te adoifDn ogn w'osr k,
whiwcehh opweeh avree presfeaniitrntel hdyci osl lewcitlilo n,
demonstthrfeau tteio lfsi utcpyhi geonhOofcl oiunrhgsei.e s
awaorfaes ocdiiamle nosfci oomnp osOifcn ogu.hr sese e tehse
wriotpeerr aitnasi ynsgot efgm e ntrhehasat v teh eoiwrnh i stories
X