Online Reflection #2: the Hamill Approach w/ Edith Wharton's Ethan Frome
The art of imitation is something that people have learned to do, and learned to do well, throughout much of their lives. From their early childhood years-when they are learning how to eat, walk, and talk, to their adolescent years- when they are learning what trends are in style or how to kiss their significant other without looking like a total novice, and even in their adult lives- when they are learning how to interview, or how to parent their children. Imitation is an effective technique, especially when it is used in the Education World. In Chapter 4 of Harry Noden's text Image Grammar, a method of imitation known as the Hamill approach is explored. Hamill learned how to write through imitation of the structure of passages of accomplished authors, while completely changing the content of the text. His approach allows students to become better writers by imitating accomplished writers organizational structures- examining how they use imagery, zooming, layering, and their use...