Four Philosophies of Composition:
In “Four Philosophies of Composition” by Richard Fulkerson, Fulkerson discusses the four philosophies of composition (expressive, mimetic, rhetorical, and formalist) that so often, cause confusion and disorder when it comes to teaching and evaluating student work in composition classes. Fulkerson’s goal in this essay was to make readers (particularly teachers) aware of these four different philosophies, and to offer them a sufficient amount of knowledge and information on each of the four in order to educate teachers about the importance of making sure that what they are asking students for, and how they are evaluating students’ assignments are in direct correlation with each other. As Fulkerson points out in his essay, teachers frequently overlap these philosophies, often asking for one thing while evaluating the assignment based off of a completely different philosophy then what was originally stated. As Fulkerson emphasizes in his essay on the “Four Philosophies of Composition,” teachers are often unaware that they are overlapping these philosophies due to the fact that they are not thoroughly educated or knowledgeable about these different philosophies. Fulkerson (1979) defines the formalist pedagogy as "philosophies emphasizing traits internal to the work." Mimetic as "philosophies emphasizing correspondence with reality," Expressive as "philosophies of composition emphasizing the writer," and rhetorical as "philosophies emphasizing the effect on the reader" (p.431).
In “Four Philosophies of Composition” by Richard Fulkerson, Fulkerson discusses the four philosophies of composition (expressive, mimetic, rhetorical, and formalist) that so often, cause confusion and disorder when it comes to teaching and evaluating student work in composition classes. Fulkerson’s goal in this essay was to make readers (particularly teachers) aware of these four different philosophies, and to offer them a sufficient amount of knowledge and information on each of the four in order to educate teachers about the importance of making sure that what they are asking students for, and how they are evaluating students’ assignments are in direct correlation with each other. As Fulkerson points out in his essay, teachers frequently overlap these philosophies, often asking for one thing while evaluating the assignment based off of a completely different philosophy then what was originally stated. As Fulkerson emphasizes in his essay on the “Four Philosophies of Composition,” teachers are often unaware that they are overlapping these philosophies due to the fact that they are not thoroughly educated or knowledgeable about these different philosophies. Fulkerson (1979) defines the formalist pedagogy as "philosophies emphasizing traits internal to the work." Mimetic as "philosophies emphasizing correspondence with reality," Expressive as "philosophies of composition emphasizing the writer," and rhetorical as "philosophies emphasizing the effect on the reader" (p.431).