Peter Elbow ‘s essay equates lack of voice with a certain type of censorship, often self-imposed, but usually deriving from the exterior forces of conformity. Voice, our real voice, is something we once had as children and through our transformation into adulthood has been lost, erased, covered up. This process often occurs under the guise of getting an education. Elbow seems to be saying that much more is at stake here than our writing; it involves regaining ourselves. The question of does voice have a place in academic writing, will have a multitude of answers. I say, why not. What ‘s so great and sacred about academic writing to begin with? Isn’t an academic voice a fake voice? The supplementation of real voice in a research paper could add interesting and new modulations that might not have seemed possible if one remained in an academic voice.
Voice and the Academy
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September 17, 2009 at 3:14 am |
I like your analysis of voice. I agree that an academic voice is a fake one. We develop our scholarly tones through imitation: fake it ’till ya make it.
I love the idea of allowing students to write with their own voice. However, I wonder if that’s the best way to serve students. Isn’t part of college learning to jump through the hoops like a trained poodle in order to get the kibble? I’m torn. Perhaps imitation is the first step to individuation.
September 17, 2009 at 4:19 am |
I agree that voice belongs in academic work, but do you think that up until now there has been none? An academic voice that is just a more formal version on one’s own voice would not come across to me as fake. Matthew pointed out that the three readings for BA 1-3 are each good examples of academic essays that are still strong in personal voice. What do you think?