Writing in the Classroom

Am reflecting on a disturbing conversation I had today with a High Authority Who Shall Remain Unnamed, who asked why I required writing in my literature classes. I was really taken aback. All lit courses require writing--there is consensus in our department that this is a Good Thing. Are we wrong to believe that writing engages students, gets them out of that passive-learning mode, and is, well, just plain good for them? Am I wrong to want to work on writing in my classes as a part of the teaching I do?

Wow.