Exploring the Place of Creative Writing Programs in American Universities

Abstract

The current system of writing education actually causes many students to become unsure and frustrated with their writing because of ill-designed Freshman Composition classes and poor pedagogy. So how can creative writing be used to improve writing education in English and across disciplines in American universities? To answer this, I look at various sources by both composition scholars and creative writers, as well as journals and departmental histories. I attempt to synthesize composition and creative writing pedagogies to be applied both inside and outside of English classes, improving the general quality of writing students produce. In this research, I found that creative writing techniques can help resolve the frustration and disconnectedness students feel towards writing and improve the writing education provided in universities. In addition, creative writing can be effectively applied in other disciplines by taking advantage of technology and writing centers.