When considering the implications that are heard in Bartholomae’s essay, one might think that the purpose of our existence as English Studies students is quite pointless and insignificant. The underlying argument still stands about what Composition is and what makes up a Composition course. Is it a class that meets the basic needs of College Freshmen? How do we distinguish the “scholarship of compostion” and the “scholarship of rhetoric”? For years and even decades there has been a question about whether or not language and the formation of language is important for students to understand and be able to differentiate. Do students really need to know what the difference between a noun and verb are in order to properly write? Bartholomae seems to imply that they don’t, but unfortunately students must understand the placement of the noun and the verb in order to write what we call a proper sentence. Without the grammar fundamentals, students are lacking the foundation required. Another question that may arise: Do students need to understand how language is modified through the author’s voice in order to write a letter of intent for employment, as an example? If a student is applying for a position, no matter what field of study it falls into, they can be taken seriously or as a joke based on the way that they compose the letter with rhetoric. It seems that rhetoric and composition will follow the student, no matter what field of employment they belong to.
