Debate Summary

Elbow/Bartholomae Debate:

Bartholomae argues against Elbow in that he believes teachers are fully necessary in the writing process. He uses academic prose and verbose sentences to try and prove his point. Some of his arguments I thought to be interesting include the following:

Academic writing is the real work of the academy:

To disregard the teacher is to throw away authority power and tradition. All writing done in the academy is academic.

Teachers should not think of themselves are frontier guides but more or less as managers.

Bartholomae constantly attacks Elbows ideas on what i view as a one sided debate.

He talks of a utopia and seemingly underestimates the students. If I could paint a picture of Bartholomae it would be one of a stodgy old man in a dark velvet bathrobe and slippers, who is smoking out of his tobacco pipe at the door to his study. He looks very uninviting, as I try to enter his discussion with his highly esteemed colleagues. He pierces my heart and confidence with his judgmental eyes and unchanging ways.

Four questions I have:

Does Bartholomae free write outside of his academic walls, just for amusement?

What degree of English did Bartholomae achieve, and at what university or institute?

Lastly, does he seem like such a pompus ass to everyone? Is he like that in real life?