Writers Block and the Process of Intellectual Inquiry

I have been in my workspace in Heinkel this evening, absolutely paralyzed trying to write my semester paper for this class. The writing process is often this way for me. As a diversion, I read the assigned reading for our class this week, and found it not only refreshing, but relevant to my writing block. I have been so worried that my desire to take a "side" in the Prop B issue would be a problem in a class that has seemed to emphasize cooperation and inquiry so strongly, that I have been afraid to start writing. What I saw in the Lynch,et al piece gave me hope. It is possible to come to a position with thought and complexity, and to stake a claim that will make a difference in the real world. Doing so is not easy, for it involves a process of inquiry that hears the complexity of the issues, examines the consequences of the various positions,and recognizes the situatedness of the various participants. I know that, for me, any paper worth its salt, particularly one on an issue that I care about as much as this one, challenges me to find the moment when I can stop researching and write. There is always more to learn, more to explore, more to consider. And, in a rhetorical piece, there is always one more piece of "text" to examine. I really love the process outlined in the Lynch, et al piece. I wish we had read it earlier in the semester, and I would have enjoyed having my paper due in four pieces at various stages along the way. It would be a very interesting exercise in arguing differently!