I registered for EH 301 at the University of Florida because my advisor suggested that I do so. I had been writing less than spectacular papers for two quarters and I was becoming increasingly concerned. I felt that I was capable of doing intelligent and readable work and it wasn't very gratifying to submit papers that were boring both to myself and to my instructors. In retrospect, I believe that my greatest problem was being too worried about making a grade and therefore too overtly conscious of organization to be able to write perceptively. Writing with any kind of insight at all requires a flow of unified thoughts that must involve the unconscious. I learned very much in Advanced Composition about my own unconscious. In this essay I will attempt to describe the approach that has, I think, greatly increased my ability to express myself effectively.
In the beginning I was a bit skeptical and couldn't for the life of me see how investigating the unconscious could affect my writing competence. We discussed the significance of dreams and were asked to keep a journal of as many dreams as we were able to recall during the quarter. We read essays by Carl Jung and some of his associates dealing with the characteristics and importance of dreams. Then I began to cross the threshold of understanding. The readings provided me with the knowledge that dreams are the language of the unconscious with valid arguments supporting that assertion. Our first two papers were exposition and analysis of a dream and a memory, in that order, with respect to a portion of the reading assignment. The unconscous, moreover, was necessarily the source and became a part of the conscious writing effort. At last I was expressing myself. Although we were given writing assignments, the material was our own and that was acceptable. As the course progressed we applied our newfound style to both creative and critical writing with surprising results. As the course drew to a close, I found that my writing had improved substantially and that I had more confidence in my ability.
There are three things that I feel I have gained from this approach to composition. The first is the ability to write not strictly on the conscious level, but with the conscious and the unconscious functioning together. I find that both my enjoyment and proficiency have increased. Second, the readings that we have done have revealed a great deal to me about my own unconscious and that aspect of my existence has acquired more validity and meaning. But his course has another asset of equal value. The student is not harshly criticized or abused or dehumanized as in so many of the other courses offered on this campus. Instead I find that I have been encouraged and praised at times for my efforts and that my errors have been pointed out and suggestions for improvement made gracefully and tactfully so that EH 301 actually became a learning experience instead of a chore. In his own way the instructor, Dr. Rockwood, showed us that students have value and worth and allowed us to prove it to ourselves. Combined, these three factors are responsible for making this the most worthwhile and beneficial course I have taken since I have been in college. As I attempt to describe Dr. Rockwood's approach to Advanced Composition, the feeling that it has ended far too soon saddens me. But what I have learned will always be a part of me, and for this I am deeply grateful.
© Copyright 2002 by Robert J. R. Rockwood. All rights reserved.