WIReD
Writing Instructor Research and Development

Professional Textbooks

Below are books focusing on various issues in composition studies. While some are available at Helmke, some need to be requested via Document Delivery.

Included in English Studies:  Learning Climates that Cultivate Racial and Ethnic Diversity

This text offers a variety of articles addressing the issue of race in the composition classroom.  According to the editors, these essays “broaden the discussion [regarding race and composition] by exploring the role gateway English courses play in helping students in general, and students of color in particular, adjust to postsecondary academic work” (5).  Of particular interest is the article “Diversity: An Assignment for Basic Writing Students” because it offers a practical assignment with thorough theoretical analysis. 

Shelli B Fowler and Victor Villanueva, editors

Table of Contents
"The Dance of Safety:  Examining the Stances taken by the White Faculty in Relation to the Black Males in the College Classroom"
“My Story, Her Story, Our Story”
"Histories, Ideologies, and Discourses of (Un)Identification:  An Approach to Composition and Critical Pedagogy for Mexican American College Writers”
“Community Archaeology:  A Historically Black College”
“Pluralism in Practice:  An Approach to Language Variety”
“Community and Mexican American Students of Composition: Papels de Honor
“Critically Self-Reflexive Interpretive and Pedagogical Practices for an African American Literature Course”
“Coalition Pedagogy:  Building Bonds between Instructors and Students of Color”
“Liberating Vampires and Transforming Desires: Critical Reflexive Rhetoric for an Age of Globalization”
“The Color Line: African American Vernacular English and the Computerized Grammar Checkers”
“Diversity:  An Assignment for Basic Writing Students”
“Using Assessment Techniques in a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Class”
“In Our Own Voices: Liberating Race from the Margins”

A Field of Dreams: Independent Writing Programs and the Future of Composition Studies

A Field of Dreams’ primary focus is to define the independent writing program and examine its place in the university.  Specifically, the question of where writing programs belong in the university is discussed.  The third section of this text, “The Big Picture: Implications for Composition, English Studies, and Literacy Education,” is excellent reading for AFGA Council members to refamiliarize themselves to the institutional politics that govern the writing program conversation. 

Peggy O’Neill, Angela Crow, and Larry Burton, editors

Table of Contents
Local Scenes: Stories of Independent Writing Programs
“The Origins of a Department of Academic, Creative, and Professional Writing”
“Internal Friction in a New Independent Department of Writing and What the External Conflict Resolution Consultants Recommended”
“Writing Identity:  The Independent Writing Department as a Disciplinary Center”
“Small but Good:  How a Specialized Writing Program Goes It Alone”
"Independence Fostering Community:  The Benefits of an Independent Writing Program at a Small Liberal Arts College”
“No Longer Discourse Technicians:  Redefining Place in Purpose in an Independent Canadian Writing Program”
Beyond the Local: Connections Among Communities
“Learning as We G(r)o(w): Strategizing the Lessons of a Fledgling Rhetoric and Writing Department”
“Creating Two Departments of Writing: One Past and One Future”
“Who Wants Composition?  Reflections on the Rise and Fall of an Independent Program”
“Revising the Dream:  Graduate Students, Independent Writing Programs, and the Future of English Studies”
“Locating Writing Programs in Research Universities”
“Wagering Tenure by Signing on with Independent Writing Programs”
The Big Picture: Implications for Composition English Studies, and Literacy Education
“A Rose by Every Other Name:  The Excellent Problem of Independent Writing Programs”
“Keeping (in) Our Places, Keeping Two Faces”
“Managing to Make a Difference”
“Stasis and Change:  The Role of Independent Composition Programs and the Dynamic Nature of Literacy”
"Bigger than a Discipline?”

Rehearsing New Roles:  How College Students Develop as Writers

Carroll first discusses the assumptions compositions instructors make about beginning college students.  The text also examines students’ writing skills as they develop throughout their postsecondary career. She also analyzes the supposition that first-year composition is a “service course.”  She also evaluates several teaching methods as to how well they promote student writing development.

Lee Ann Carroll

Table of Contents
A Preview of Writing Development
Studying College Writers: Context and Method
Riding the Literacy Roller Coaster in General Education and First-Year Composition
Supporting Writing Development Across the Disciplines
A Concluding Look at Development

Assessing Student Learning Outcomes for Information Literacy Instruction in Academic Institutions

Avery’s book examines the topic of information literacy as it can be applied across the institution.  In the table of contents listed below, the various academic areas which information literacy studies effects are highlighted.  IPFW composition instructors can pay interest to the chapters entitled, “Assessing Information Literacy Instruction,” “Assessing Information Literacy in an English Composition Class,” and “Assessing Abilities of Freshman to Reconcile New Knowledge with Prior Knowledge.”

Elizabeth Fuseler Avery, editor

          Table of Contents
          “Assessing Information Literacy Instruction”
          “Planning For Assessment”
          “Selecting and Developing Assessment Tools”
          “Analyzing Data”
          “Reporting Results”
          “First Year Experience Research Skills Survey”
          “Information Competency as Historian’s Craft”
          “Assessing Liberal Arts Classes”
          “Assessing Student Learning in Sociology”
          “Information Literacy Assessment Tool”
          “Midlands Technical College:  Information Literacy Assessment Project”
          “Information Literacy Assessment at a Small Commuter Campus”
          “Assessing Student Learning for Information Literacy in a Core Business Class”
          “Using Rubrics to Assess Information Literacy Attainment in a Community College Education Class”
          “Assessing Information Literacy in an English Composition Class”
          “Webliography Assignment for Lifetime Wellness Class”
          “Assessing Student Learning Outcomes in Political Science Classes”
          “Montana State University:  Information Literacy Assessment Project”
          “Institutionalizing a Graduation Requirement”
          “Assessing Student Learning through the Analysis of Research Papers”
          “Information Literacy in Community College Communications Courses”
          “Integrated Information Literacy Impact Study”
          “Assessing Information Literacy in Community College Human Services Courses”
          “Assessment of Student Learning in ENGL 101 Composition
          “Information Literacy Assessment for Introduction to Music Course”
          “Assessing Abilities of Freshman to Reconcile New Knowledge with Prior Knowledge”    
          “Past Lives:  An Exercise in Historical Research with an Annotate Bibliography Requirement”
          “Ethnography and Information Literacy:  An Assessment Project”

Teaching at Its Best

Nilson’s text is an excellent comprehensive handbook for any instructor new to teaching in the university.  Her book covers everything from developing a course and syllabus to addressing classroom difficulties, from composing assignments and tests to evaluating teaching methods.  IPFW composition instructors may want to focus on the chapters dedicated to group learning and information technology. 

Linda Nilson

Table of Contents
“Instructional Support Services”
“Understanding Your Students”
“In the Beginning:  Course Design and Objectives”
“The Complete Syllabus”
“Course Coordination between Faculty and TAs”
“Copyright Guidelines for Instructors”
“Your First Day of Class”
“Preventing and Responding to Classroom Incivility”
“Preserving Academic Honesty”
"Making the Most of Office Hours”
“Motivating Your Students”
“Teaching to Different Learning Styles”
“An Introduction to Student-Active Teaching:  The Discovery Method”
“Making the Lecture a Learning Experience”
"Leading Effective Discussions”
“Questioning Techniques for Discussion and Assessment”
Experiental [sic] Learning Activities”
“Learning Groups”
“Getting Your Students to Do the Readings
“Writing-to-Learn Activities and Assignments”
“Teaching Your Students to Think and Write in the Disciplines”
“Tools of the Trade: Making the Most of Instructional Aids and Technology”
“Teaching Problem Solving I: The Case Method”
“Teaching Problem Solving II: Problem-Based Learning”
“Teaching Problem Solving III: Quantitative Reasoning”
“Teaching Problem Solving IV: Science in the Laboratory”
“Assessing Students’ Learning in Progress”
“Test Construction”
“Preparing Students for Tests”
"Grading: Tests, Assignments, and Course Performance”
“Evaluating and Documenting Teaching Effectiveness”

Preparing College Teachers of Writing:  Histories, Theories, Programs, Practices

This text offers a very thorough examination of the history and theory behind teaching new writing faculty.  New Composition Committee members may find this text provides a theoretical basis to use when meeting writing instructors regarding their teaching portfolios.  New writing instructors may also want to look into Michael Flanigan’s article “From Discomfort, Isolation, and Fear to Comfort, Community, and Confidence:  Using Reflection, Role-Playing, and Classroom Observation to Prepare New Teachers of College Writing,” which discusses classroom atmosphere and community.

Betty Pytlik and Sarah Liggett, editors

Table of Contents
“How Graduate Students Were Prepared to Teach Writing—1850-1970”
“Recent Trends in TA Instruction:  A Bibliographic Essay
“After Preparing TAs for the Classroom, What Then? Three Decades of Conversation about Preparing TAs for the Job Market”
“When Teaching Assistants Teach Teaching Assistants to Teach: A Historical View of a Teacher Preparation Program”
“TA Education as Dialogic Response:  Furthering the Intellectual Work of the Profession through WPA”
Part II Theories
“The Professionalization of TA Development Programs:  A Heuristic for Curriculum Design”
“Thinking Together: Developing a Reciprocal Model for Approaches to Preparing College Teachers of Writing”        
“Educating Literacy Instructors:  Practice versus Expression”
“Too Cool for School?  Composition as Cultural Studies and Reflective Practice”
“Feminist Approaches to Mentoring Teaching Assistants:  Conflict, Power, and Collaboration”
“Negotiating Resistance and Change:  One Composition Program’s Struggle Not to Convert”
Part III Programs
“Preparing Graduate Students across the Curriculum to Teach Writing”
“Creating a Culture of Reflective Practice:  A Program for Continuing TA Preparation after the Practicum”
“Experience and Reflection in Multiple Contexts:  Preparing TAs for the Artistry of Professional Practice”
“The Three-Part Program for Preparing TAs to Lead Professional Communication Courses at Miami University (Ohio)”
“Preparing College Teachers of Writing to Teach in a Web-Based Classroom:  History, Theoretical Base, Web Base, and Current Practices”
“’What Would You Like to Work on Today?’ The Writing Center as a Site for Teacher Training”
Part IV Practices
“Mentoring: Past, Present, and Future”
“Mentors, Models, and Agents of Change:  Veteran TAs Preparing Teachers of Writing”
“Orientation and Mentoring:  Collaborative Practices in Teacher Preparation”
“From Discomfort, Isolation, and Fear to Comfort, Community, and Confidence:  Using Reflection, Role-Playing, and Classroom Observation to Prepare New Teachers of College Writing”
“Essaying TA Training”
“Orientation for Teachers of Technical Writing”
“Learning to Evaluate and Grade Student Writing:  An Ongoing Conversation”
“The Teaching Portfolio:  Practicing What We Teach”
“Evolution of a Teaching Notebook:  Contents, Purposes, and Assessment”

Teacher Commentary on Student Papers:  Conventions, Beliefs and Practices

Ogede’s collection of articles offers sound teaching advice from a variety of seasoned writing instructors and professors.  These authors address a variety of writing issues, as evidenced by the titles listed in the table of contents below.  Specifically, the articles that address offering feedback to student assignments, such as “Moving Students beyond Defensiveness and Anxiety in Writing Assignments,” “Teacher Commentary:  Put That Red Pen Down for Now!” and “From Commentary to Conference” speak to the issues writing instructors face when teaching a potentially personal and often-viewed subjective subject matter. 

Ode Ogede, editor

Table of Contents
“Introduction:  Some Words of Encouragement and Hope for the Teacher”
“Comments in Context:  How Students Use and Abuse Instructor Comments”
“Overcoming Marginalization:  Promoting Active Learning by Teaching the Technique and Theory of Margin Notes”
“The Teacher’s Pet Phenomenon:  From Dysfunction to Learning Model”
“Teaching Generation X: A Dialogical Approach to Teacher Commentary”
“A Shared Journey in Composition and Basic Writing Classes:  Another View of the Dialogical Approach to Teacher Commentary on Student Assignments”
“Writing and Relationship”
“On the Margin of Discovery”
“Teacher Commentary:  Put That Red Pen Down for Now!”
“Rethinking Ways to Teach Young Writers:  Response and Evaluation in the Creative Writing Course”
“From Commentary to Conference”
“Moving Students beyond Defensiveness and Anxiety in Writing Assignments”
“Rigor, Rigor, Rigor, and the Rigor of Death:  A Does of Discipline Shot through Teacher Response to Student Writing”

Misunderstanding the Assignment:  Teenage Students, College Writing, and the Pains of Growth

Hunt’s text takes a novel approach to examining teaching college writing; this book is written in a narrative form.  Hunt details the experiences of teaching a class of freshmen.  He interviews and presents each student to his reader, so that each student serves as a type of student writing faculty may encounter.  The reader is shown the semester as it develops, as chapters are divided into weeks of the semester.  Hunt also offers dialogue between the instructor, Rachel Palencia Harper, and her students and example student writing both with and without instructor feedback.  This true account of teaching composition written as a narrative is a refreshing tone shift from similar, more theoretical texts.

 

 

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