Kitchen Tables And Rented Rooms Summary

When reading the article “Kitchen Tables and Rented Rooms: The Extracurriculum of Composition” by Anne Ruggles Gere, it sparks an interest in how people use writing and literature. Gere talks about how dozens of writers would gather together around kitchen tables or in rented rooms and they would share each other's writings and receive criticism. Even though “these women have little formal education, they take their writing seriously; they offer one another encouragement as well as criticism and suggest revisions” (Gere 75). While they may not have much education, they still enjoy writing and wish to get better and learn from one another. It brings up a point that literacy and “ writing development occurs outside formal education” (75). People like to think literature can only occur in the academic world. However, writing and language are implemented in all of our lives. I like to use an informal style of language when speaking to friends and family, but when I speak to professionals or write in school, I use a formal style.
There seems to be an epidemic among people’s writings in their careers and in school. Their writing skills are starting to fall
They also need to make sure people know and use a formal style when writing papers for schools and in their careers. If they use formal language, it will help one prove to their colleagues and bosses that they know what they are doing and will allow them to stand out. If Amy Tan were to use her “broken” English when working a job, then it would only cause confusion because others do not know her form of English. So, if people like Tan, were to go to a college where teaching formal writing and language is a priority, then it will greatly improve life in the professional world. This will, then, help colleges not have their students write at a middle school