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last.updated 3.2.08

 

L2 Writing in Context

Purpose

The focus of our discussions throughout the semester has been on theories and practices often related to the first year writing. While this scholarship is certainly applicable to other pedagogical contexts, today gives us an opportunity to specifically discuss some of those contexts.

Before Class

  • Read Alsup and Bush "Narratives about teaching..." [BB]
  • Read Kasper and Weiss "Building ESL students' linguistic and academic literacy..." [BB]
  • Read Rafoth "Trying to explain English" [BB]
  • Read Allison "Creativity, students' academic writing, and EAP" [Journal of English for Academic Purposes 3.3]
  • Submit PAB #5 to the Blackboard Discussion Board by the beginning of class

Discussion I: Different Contexts

We will discuss the following:

  • the definitions of expressivism and social constructivism
  • Based upon the title of his article, "Trying to explain English" what did you expect from Rafoth? Did he deliver? What is his argument? Is this satisfactory?
  • What are the advantages of the collaboration that Kasper and Weiss suggest? How might this type of collaboration be particularly useful to students a two-year colleges? How might you revise their curriculum for students with lower proficiencies in English?
  • According to Allison, what is creativity? How can those of us in English or the language arts influence how creativity is understood across the campus? What pedagogical connections can you make between creativity, Contrastive Rhetoric, and World Englishes?
  • How would you respond to the narratives that Alsup and Bush present? How do your responses compare to those provided by the authors?

Discussion II: Tying Up Loose Ends

This is the last class focused on different L2 writing issues before we move into discussions about L2 writing research; also it is the last class before the submission of the DOA. Therefore, the instructor will give the students an opportunity to pose questions about issues they want addressed that were not covered, as well as issues about the DOA.