Think about it. The essay is everywhere! I suppose it never went totally away, but today it is certainly ubiquitous! And as a quintessential English professor, I can barely contain my excitement. (I’ll try, watching this English teacher do cartwheels down the hall would not be a pretty thing).
Take this entry right here. This is an essay. Take most blog entries — they’re essays. I say “most” because there are those that are all image, audio, or video, but even those are essays, albeit in different media.
Writing an essay takes thought, planning, organizing and plain old good writing skills. With the blog exploding as today’s means of expression, people are paying attention to their writing and skills are improving!
Essay Writing is Here to Stay
After many years of schlepping my way through one corporate environment after another, I most inadvertently fell into teaching at the college level. The first few years were hell. I remember some of the worst digestive issues I’ve ever had and anxiety attacks that made me certain I would end up splayed all over the floor of my classrooms. But somewhere along the way, something changed, and felt comfortable. Then something changed some more and I felt good. And today, I feel excited and exhilarated every time I get up in front of that class. In short, I have fun! Yes, we get stuff done, too. But we all have fun. The students tell me they really like my classes, which range from Digital Literacy to Business Communications to Writing as a Business.
Just like anything that “works” anymore, my style is relationship. I seek to know each student — their strengths, their “opportunities,” their personalities, when they’re up, down, and in-between. This is something different for them; they are not used to their professors wanting to “know” them. I work with them in class — in groups and one-on-one. I have meetings with them outside of class. I write copious notes on their papers, I kid them, I allow things to get a little “casual” in my class. And it works. After a few weeks they relax into this new andrological style, and then we have fun. What’s more — they learn!