william h. thelin the university of akron. “i told him, 'son, what is it with you. is it...
Post on 04-Jan-2016
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Why Your Students Can’t Write—
And What You Can Do about It
William H. ThelinThe University of Akron
“I told him, 'Son, what is it with you. Is it ignorance or apathy?' He said, 'Coach, I don't know and I don't care.”
--Frank Layden, Former Coach, Utah Jazz
How Much Can We Do?
Lore= 5-paragraph essays, knowledge of kinds and forms of essays and paragraphs, de-contextualized grammar instruction, etc.
Research=form is dictated by content, genre is decided when topic and audience are established, paragraphs vary in length, grammar is taught in the context of a student’s writing, etc.
Lore vs. Research
Enough Rigor?
Grammar?
Appropriate Grading?
Just Passing Them On?
What Are They Doing in English Composition??!!??!!
• Hours It Takes
* 66-67 hours per class reading bare minimum number of papers (20 minutes per paper) * 8 ½ 40-hour work weeks spent reading and responding to assignments if teaching 4 classes (not counting prep)
Hiring Situation
Labor Conditions
Assignments based in personal experience
Focus on structure and grammar
Lack of reading
Lack of Conceptual Learning/Transferability
Curriculum
Assignment Construction
“That was only for English Composition!”
Disciplinary Knowledge
Once They Leave (Who? Me?)
Full-Time Hires
Accountability through Assessment
Multi-Modal and Service Learning Projects
What We’re Doing
Control curriculum from programs with articulation agreements
Teach parameters and conventions of every discipline
Solve the ongoing labor problem
What We Can’t Do
Assign a handbook
Multiple drafts
Reinforce concepts learned in English Composition (Thesis, Audience, Organization, Language Use) and translate those into the conventions of your discipline
What You Can Do
Reasons for problems1) Not knowing rules2) Dialectical Issues3) Hyper-Corrections4) Regression5) Not seeing errors6) Grammar Check7) Previous teaching8) Remembering rules incorrectly
What about Grammar????
Do not correct errors for the students (circling, crossing out, etc.)
Refer them to the handbook Spot patterns of error (do not over-correct) Translate from their dialect Do not panic! Grammar has to count Model correct prose for students
How You Can Help
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