Purpose Statement
I have never been
successful in either helping solve problems or develop skills by applying
theory to the practical. So for me, practice is the theory.
Description of Activity
See
"Application"
Description and Application are one
Materials Needed
Classroom, students,
blackboard, writing sample, periodic integration of writing skills,Writing Lab
presentation, etc.
Application
1. In the first week
students write a two-page paper on their "Most Significant Summer
Experience." This gives me a writing sample. Over fifty percent of the
time it is much more. As a writing I can now decide if the Writing Lab is
needed and refer all students who may benefit, asking them to take the two-pager
as an example. I always have a short presentation by Writing Lab staff in class
before sending students. This assignment also reveals an extremely personal
side of many students; they talk of disappointments, family divorce and its
consequences, personal stresses and many other related experiences and allows
me further insign into their character.
2. Now that I know how they write, I begin to emphasize at some time during
each lecture the importance of well-written essay examinations. I pose
questions from each lecture as we go and then illustrate how these might be
addressed, looking at the introductory paragraph and thesis statement, general
content and conclusion.
3. At the same time, I am always pointing out a simple method of note taking
for each lecture, what to emphasize, what to note, what to forget and why.
Again, this is ongoing but not overbearing.
4. The period prior to an examination, we take a prearranged lecture that will
not be on the examination and, in class, formulate a question, write the
introductory paragraph and thesis statement, outline the content and write a
conclusion. From this we create a simple outline, which they would bring to
class from memory.
5. By having students and the teacher constantly posing questions, it allows
for the writing of several possible examination questions and outlines to
study. Such outlines then form the core from which the question will be
answered. Students are urged to read and study using this method as well.
6. I always give students three or four questions in advance, one of which will
be on the exam. This method allows students the time to research the questions,
reflect and write on them, and create an outline. Since these questions always
involve critical analysis not memory-and-delivery, it has been my experience
that students learn more about history's interrelationships; thus, they learn
more.
In this way I try to help in solving the problem of writing essays, address
specific writing and grammar concerns, and develop general examples of note taking.
Related Student Services
Writing Lab
this web page was created
on 11/6/99 at 8:57:18 AM
and modified on 11/6/99 at 8:57:18 AM