I believe that a new textbook would be a good idea for ENG 110. The new edition of Composing Ourselves does not contain many changes, as far as text is concerned. The largest change I noticed is the use of colored pictures.
However, I do feel that some of the readings in the book are useful. My proposition would be to copy the essays I want my students to read and make them available through course reserves on the library web page. The students could make the copies themselves and it would cost them less than buying a textbook they would read less than 1/4 of. This would also allow me to put other essays on line for them that came from other sources.
I think the textbook The Curious Writer by Bruce Ballenger would be a useful text for students to use next year. It contains many examples of a variety of kinds of student papers. It also provides extensive directions on how to write different kinds of papers, which is something the current book does not contain.
Giving students stories to read can be interesting, and it helps with class discussion. But I actually feel that giving students sample essays to read which relate to their assignment will be the most beneficial in the long run. The Curious Writer would be one such asset.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Something to Say
After having experienced two class periods teaching both sections of my 110 classes I have given the memoir assignment. In order to stir my students' minds to consider what they may write about I am giving many example essays and we are reading some short stories which possess memoir-like qualities. According to Young's article in 1978, the crisis in composition classrooms is that students have nothing to write about. Thus, my hope is that by giving them examples their own thoughts will be triggered to consider what they may write about.
However, I also take up issue with the idea that students have nothing to write about. Yet, I take a different position than Hairston, who, of course, also disagrees. Of course there are composition teachers who are not well-trained. But, in regards to a memoir I do not think that a person needs a Ph.D. professor in order to learn how to write about his or her own experiences. In fact, although I am providing ample readings and examples as food for thought I really do not believe that students need to see others work in order to have something to say.
Students simply need to realize that their own experiences are valid and worthwhile. I am trying to stress to my students that they have unique experiences worth writing about, even if they are not life-altering experiences. I am trying to empower my students to believe in themselves rather than relying on prompts or a phenomenal professor in order to have something to write about.
However, I also take up issue with the idea that students have nothing to write about. Yet, I take a different position than Hairston, who, of course, also disagrees. Of course there are composition teachers who are not well-trained. But, in regards to a memoir I do not think that a person needs a Ph.D. professor in order to learn how to write about his or her own experiences. In fact, although I am providing ample readings and examples as food for thought I really do not believe that students need to see others work in order to have something to say.
Students simply need to realize that their own experiences are valid and worthwhile. I am trying to stress to my students that they have unique experiences worth writing about, even if they are not life-altering experiences. I am trying to empower my students to believe in themselves rather than relying on prompts or a phenomenal professor in order to have something to write about.
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