syllabus
calendar
blackboard
student.email resources

last.updated 1.16.06

Writing & the Teaching of Writing

Purpose

Today's class will help us establish a foundation for the work that we will be doing this semester. The writing opportunity and the following discussions will help us to consider what the point of the language arts classroom is and how we might achieve those goals.

Before Class

• Read Soven, Chapter 1 (1-9) & Chapter 2 (11-23)
• Read Alsup & Bush, Chapter 2 (39-79)

Writing Opportunity

Use the first ten minutes of class to respond to the following prompt:

What are your pedagogical goals for the language arts class? what should your students learn about writing and why? What are the best means for achieving these goals?

You will not be turning this in. Hold onto this throughout the semester. Refer back to it for your assignment. Respond to it in the Final Statement for your portfolio.

Discussion

After the writing opportunity, we will work together to determine what the goals of a writing course can be and what they should be. This discussion may help you add to the goals that you already have and it may help you to think about why you have chosen the goals that you have (and not others).

With these goals in mind, you will work in groups to examine the first two narratives that Alsup and Bush present in chapter 2 (pp. 49-50, pp. 55-57). As a group use your respective goals to explain how you would approach these two situations. Take notes on the different responses that members of your group generate and be prepared to share your overall responses with the rest of the class.