Revitalizing The Canon of Memory in the Composition Classroom
Using Memory for Reading, Prewriting, and Writing
There are three significant processes in the writing classroom that are impacted by the canon of memory: reading, prewriting, and writing. All three can work together to inform a student’s understanding of the use of memory in interpreting, inventing, and meaning-making, but unfortunately a focus on memory is currently lacking in the required composition courses taken by freshmen in college. By establishing the importance of memory in the writing classroom early in a student’s college career, students can gain a greater understanding of their own potential for creating meaningful compositions and contributing to an enhanced understanding of their personal experiences and those associated with their cultural memory.
Memory's Place in the Classroom
Teaching Resources for Integrating Memory
Utilizing Memory Prompts
In order to determine the effectiveness of memory-based writing prompts, I have compiled and completed a selection of those that I found online. In each I provide a Rationale, a Response, a Reflection, and the Resource to enable those who would like to utilize these activities in their classroom or merely for personal writing. If there is a memory writing prompt you would like to see modeled, feel free to provide it to me via the contact form.
