Illustrates the widespread applications of the Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing, especially the eight habits of mind, in helping students to be successful not only in postsecondary writing courses but also in four arenas of life: academic, professional, civic, and personal.
The concept of "college readiness" is increasingly important in discussions about students' preparation for postsecondary education. This Framework describes the rhetorical and twenty-first-century skills as well as habits of mind and experiences that are critical for college success. Based in current research in writing and writing pedagogy, the Framework was written and reviewed by two- and four-year college and high school writing faculty nationwide and is endorsed by the Council of Writing Program Administrators, the National Council of Teachers of English, and the National Writing Project. Habits of mind refers to ways of approaching learning that are both intellectual and practical and that will support students' success in a variety of fields and disciplines. The Framework identifies eight habits of mind essential for success in college writing: (1) Curiosity--the desire to know more about the world; (2) Openness--the willingness to consider new ways of being and thinking in the world; (3) Engagement--a sense of investment and involvement in learning; (4) Creativity--the ability to use novel approaches for generating, investigating, and representing ideas; (5) Persistence--the ability to sustain interest in and attention to short- and long-term projects; (6) Responsibility--the ability to take ownership of one's actions and understand the consequences of those actions for oneself and others; (7) Flexibility--the ability to adapt to situations, expectations, or demands; and (8) Metacognition--the ability to reflect on one's own thinking as well as on the individual and cultural processes used to structure knowledge. The Framework then explains how teachers can foster these habits of mind through writing, reading, and critical analysis experiences. These experiences aim to develop students': (1) Rhetorical knowledge--the ability to analyze and act on understandings of audiences, purposes, and comprehending texts; (2) Critical thinking--the ability to analyze a situation or text and make thoughtful decisions based on that analysis, through writing, reading, and research; (3) Writing processes--multiple strategies to approach and undertake writing and research; (4) Knowledge of conventions--the formal and informal guidelines that define what is considered to be correct and appropriate, or incorrect and inappropriate, in a piece of writing; and (5) Ability to compose in multiple environments--from traditional pen and paper to electronic technologies. [This paper was developed by the Council of Writing Program Administrators.].
Illustrates the widespread applications of the Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing, especially the eight habits of mind, in helping students to be successful not only in postsecondary writing courses but also in four arenas of life: academic, professional, civic, and personal.
This volume takes up rhetorical approaches to our primarily linguistic understanding of how names work, considering how theories of materiality in rhetoric enrich conceptions of the name as word or symbol and help explain the processes of name bestowal, accumulation, loss, and theft. Contributors theorize the formation, modification, and recontexualization of names as a result of technological and cultural change, and consider the ways in which naming influences identity and affects/grants power.
Teaching Mindful Writers introduces new writing teachers to a learning cycle that will help students become self-directed writers through planning, practicing, revising, and reflecting. Focusing on the art and science of instructing self-directed writers through major writing tasks, Brian Jackson helps teachers prepare students to engage purposefully in any writing task by developing the habits of mind and cognitive strategies of the mindful writer. Relying on the most recent research in writing studies and learning theory, Jackson gives new teachers practical advice about setting up writing tasks, using daily writing, leading class discussions, providing feedback, joining teaching communities, and other essential tools that should be in every writing teacher’s toolbox. Teaching Mindful Writers is a timely, fresh perspective on teaching students to be self-directed writers.
This volume, edited by Grace Veach, explores leading approaches to teaching information literacy and writing studies in upper-level and graduate courses. Contributors describe cross-disciplinary and collaborative efforts underway across higher education, during a time when "fact" or "truth" is less important than fitting a predetermined message. Topics include: working with varied student populations, teaching information literacy and writing in upper-level general education and disciplinary courses, specialized approaches for graduate courses, and preparing graduate assistants to teach information literacy.
Pedagogical Perspectives on Cognition and Writing addresses a scholarly audience in writing studies, specifically scholars and teachers of writing, writing program administrators, and writing center scholars and administrators. Chapters focus on the place of cognition in threshold concepts, teaching for transfer, rhetorical theory, trauma theory, genre, writing centers, community writing, and applications of the Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing. The 1980s witnessed a growing interest in writing studies on cognitive approaches to studying and teaching college-level writing. While some would argue this interest was simply of a moment, we argue that cognitive theories still have great influence in writing studies and have substantial potential to continue reinvigorating what we know about writing and writers. By grounding this collection in ongoing interest in writing-related transfer, the role of metacognition in supporting successful transfer, and the habits of mind within the Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing, Pedagogical Perspectives on Cognition and Writing highlights the robust but also problematic potential cognitive theories of writing hold for how we research writing, how we teach and tutor writers, and how we work with community writers. Pedagogical Perspectives on Cognition and Writing includes a foreword by Susan Miller-Cochran and an afterword by Asao Inoue. Additional contributors include Melvin E. Beavers, Subrina Bogan, Harold Brown, Christine Cucciarre, Barbara J. D’Angelo, Gita DasBender, Tonya Eick, Gregg Fields, Morgan Gross, Jessica Harnisch, David Hyman, Caleb James, Peter H. Khost, William J. Macauley, Jr., Heather MacDonald, Barry M. Maid, Courtney Patrick-Weber, Patricia Portanova, Sherry Rankins-Robertson, J. Michael Rifenburg, Duane Roen, Airlie Rose, Wendy Ryden, Thomas Skeen, Michelle Stuckey, Sean Tingle, James Toweill, Martha A. Townsend, Kelsie Walker, and Bronwyn T. Williams.
Writing at the State U presents a comprehensive, empirical examination of writing programs at 106 universities. Rather than using open survey calls and self-reporting, Emily Isaacs uses statistical analysis to show the extent to which established principles of writing instruction and administration have been implemented at state comprehensive universities, the ways in which writing at those institutions has differed from writing at other institutions over time, and how state institutions have responded to major scholarly debates concerning first-year composition and writing program administration. Isaacs’s findings are surprising: state university writing programs give lip service to important principles of writing research, but many still emphasize grammar instruction and a skills-based approach, classes continue to be outsized, faculty development is optional, and orientation toward basic writing is generally remedial. As such, she considers where a closer match between writing research and writing instruction might help to expose and remedy these difficulties and identifies strategies and areas where faculty or writing program administrators are empowered to enact change. Unique in its wide scope and methodology, Writing at the State U sheds much-needed light on the true state of the writing discipline at state universities and demonstrates the advantages of more frequent and rigorous quantitative studies of the field.