thoughts on teaching in a time of war

[Phyllis Mentzell Ryder <pryder@GWU.EDU>]

I finally have composed a letter to my students, inviting some
conversation about how to proceed in my course, American Ethnic Rhetorics.  
In it I explore how the recent events have shaken my belief in the power
of words, in the ability of rhetoric to have an effect--and ultimately, I
try to claim a space for rhetoric again, to believe that through talking
we can prevent more violence, if not across the world then at least,
slowly, one step at a time, and beginning with our classroom.

The whole letter is too long to print here, but if you would like to see
how I have tried to frame a discussion of rhetoric and current events, and
to claim a reason, again, for teaching writing now, you may find the
letter at

http://gwu.edu/~pryder/English10_F01/How_to_teach.doc

***************************************************
Dr. Phyllis Mentzell Ryder
Dept. of English