| Title | 42. The opportunity of constraint |
|---|---|
| Subtitle | How beating one’s head against the wall can open a door |
| Contributor | Joshua Thorpe (author) |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.11647/obp.0462.42 |
| Landing page | https://www.openbookpublishers.com/books/10.11647/obp.0462/chapters/10.11647/obp.0462.42 |
| License | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ |
| Copyright | Joshua Thorpe; |
| Publisher | Open Book Publishers |
| Published on | 2025-07-02 |
| Long abstract | This case study explores how rules and constraints in writing can serve as empowering tools for creativity and growth. Focusing on a postgraduate student with dyslexia, the study examines the impact of two constraint-based writing workshops in helping him overcome his fears, rewire his writing processes, and accomplish goals he previously thought unattainable. The findings suggest that such approaches could offer innovative methods for teaching writing while challenging conventional notions of autonomy and agency in academic practice. The study highlights three key insights: language as a material force, the overrated nature of freedom, and the social dimensions of writing. These perspectives have the potential to reshape the way writing and academic literacies are approached in Higher Education. |
| Page range | pp. 505–512 |
| Print length | 8 pages |
| Language | English (Original) |
Joshua Thorpe is a writer, learning developer, designer, artist, speaker, and radio host living in Glasgow. He works at University of Stirling and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Thorpe is the author of AI for Students (https://promptlybooks.com/ai/), a comic-style book that shows how to use generative AI to think more, not less, in education.