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A Plumber Teaches Writing?
My philosophy of teaching has developed gradually over the years, but I think I have been heavily influenced by my father who worked for over 40 years as a plumber. As a young boy, I would often travel with Dad to neighbors’ homes, and he would attempt to repair the leaky pipe, adjust the water heater, or fix the furnace. As we worked, he often expressed three of his favorite sentiments, sentiments that I have incorporated into my philosophy of teaching.
- “There’s no such thing as an easy job.” Even though our friends and neighbors would assure us ahead of time that “it’s a small job,” or, “it shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes,” Dad knew better. He always told me to be prepared for anything and be ready to work hard. I have always tried to pass that wisdom along to my students, especially when it comes to writing.
Many students limit themselves when they write. They simply write a first draft of an essay or story and turn it in for a grade. I try to convince them to go to the opposite extreme. Instead of viewing writing as a one-step process, I try to emphasize six distinct steps: idea, research, first draft, revision, final draft, and editing. Yes, students can complete the paper in one step, but…
