Introducing the Composition Student to the Writer He or She Already Is

My experience working with first year writers in courses designed to teach critical thinking and composition has introduced me to a mass of young adults who are anxious when it comes to effective written communication in a college classroom. Not only are they troubled about how to write to an audience of college professors, but they are also intimidated by having to do so. Self-conscious of themselves as writers, they often forget that they are indeed writing, and communicating effectively through that writing, all the time. I believe that it is not only possible, but also highly effective, to begin teaching the writing process by directing students to their secondary, non-academic, writing