Not Enough Freedom in Writing

I agree with Donald M. Murray in “Teach Writing as a Process Not Product” that students should be allowed more freedom when writing papers (4). My son, a high school senior, is normally dictated how many pages his paper should be, in addition to the target audience, and the topic he chooses must be chosen from within a set of parameters. In the case of a Literature class, where a particular book is being studied or a history class in which students are learning about a specific event and location, I suppose these guidelines are necessary. However, there should be more opportunities to write within a broader spectrum. I have watched my son lose his enthusiasm for writing over the years as the parameters within which he has been given for his writing assignments have shrunken. If I teacher stands back and allows his or her students to learn the process of writing by choosing their own topics, language style, and methods of reaching their audience, most students will feel a sense of ownership and take pride in their work. However, should the final product be lacking, aren’t the results the same? What criteria should be used in grading the work at the end of the course or marking period, as Murray suggested, to prevent these students from becoming discouraged, which could in turn lead to a loss of excitement about writing?