by Rhonda Minion
Students can look forward to doing more writing in classes other than English. A new procedure, titled “Writing Across the Curriculum,” is starting across Texarkana College.
Levi Hall, dean of instruction, heads this program which is designed to get the students writing more and more comfortable with writing.
“I’ve been interested in this for a number of years,” Hall said. “We need to be proficient in these works of all students, to get an all students to express themselves on all the points.”
“Writing Across the Curriculum” is not doing all of the it and is choosing a place to sit or placing all the commissions in the right place,” Hall said. “Its main purpose is to get them to communicate on paper.”
Norbert Elliott, from ETSU at Commerce Department of Literature and Language, conducted a seminar and demonstrated to nine TC faculty members how this program operates.
The faculty members who participated in this program are: Gail Haddock, data processing; Dr. Royce Grannberry, agriculture; Georgia McFaul, counseling; Dr. Candy Smith and Pat Meredith, both of the social science department; Dolores Hendrix and Dr. David Allard, both of the biology department; Dr. Mike Buttram, chemistry and Shirley Finn, nursing.
Three points TC instructors are being asked to keep in mind while using this project in class are:
- Make sure exams are clear and definite, particularly on how they will be evaluated.
- Always provide students with an example of the type of finished product expected.
- Use class time to peer evaluate so the students can see what other prepare paper.”
Other things Elliott included were how to get the program started, encouraging the reading and several other ideas.
“We have a small group that is really interested in this project,” Hall said. “Hopefully the group will expand.”
“This is a good movement and it is really spreading. Although, it is not original in TC, schools all over the country are doing it.”
The project is intended to benefit the students, he said. “If you look in grants to become better, Honnay.” But the majority ations is to benefits students.
The faculty members commented on “Writing Across the Curriculum” and mentioned ways can play an operative in the project in their classes.
“I am real excited about it,” Dr. Smith said. “Dr. Elliott showed us interesting ways which can be used in class no matter what subject area.
“Students are judged by doing well on these by their communication skills,” she said. “To ensure that they have skills that are necessary to succeed. Lester and I had stressed using more writing assignments in classes.
“In American government,” the social science teachers,”students are having to write a presidential candidate paper. Our Texas government classes have to write biographies, said, the speech will not be given orally.”
Dr. Buttram, TC chemistry teacher, is experimenting with the project in his classes.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do for sure, but we are kicking the idea around a little bit,” Buttram said. “After a test today, I had the class write a paper describing gas laws at the level where a six-year-old could understand it.
“In their words. Kids can do better than I thought they could,” he said.
Dr. Allard, biology instructor, thought that “Writing Across the Curriculum” was a “pretty good idea.
“A lot of classes have multiple choice tests which do not allow the students to practice producing written communication. I usually have questions that require written answers,” Allard said. “The reason I like this program is that students have to write and organize their thoughts.”
“Writing is a necessity,” Dolores Hendrix said. “People need to be more aware of how to write, what is being said, what is produced as written by what they write. Anyone who can’t, don’t look at being something big.”
Hendrick said that she is easing her classes into doing more.
“At first, they’re want to do it,” she said. “But they’re getting more comfortable about it.”
“I usually have one essay question at the end of a test. In the essay question, I require: four statements, a conclusion and their opinions.
“I appreciate the administartion for taking the time and trouble to initiate a program like this on campus,” Hendrix said.
“If we get a joint effort from the faculty of our campus, we’ll get a higher effort from our students.”
“I’m still enjoying with the idea,” Dr. Granberry said. “I’m trying various kinds of writing activities on exams by using formats from multiple choice, there’s no definite right or wrong.
“After I have students write their notes, I have them read and edit it out,” he said. “I set up a reward system for those who do it.
“I don’t want to make it seem like an extra brick around the neck,” Granberry said. “The writing too require a portion of their exams to be written, though, it prevents themselves.” he disagrees.
“The other counselors and I are going to use this project in freshman orientation during the career planning section of course,” McFaul, director of counseling, said. “I’ll show examples of poor writing, good writing and average writing. Then, I’ll give them an assignment and have them re-write it.
“One type of assignment that will be shown in social will interview someone who they in a job position the student would like to have in the future,” McFaul, said. “They’ll have to design interview payment, advantages and disadvantages and have edited ratings.”
Haddock, TC data processing teacher, wants her students to experience the type of writing they will use on the job.
“For instance, one assignment is to write a memo to their supervisor discussing which software package the company should buy,” she said.
“Basically, the students will write about computer stuff they learn in class and the way it would relate to their job.”
“I know a lot of this project depends much on the interest of the faculty in the health division,” Finn, director of nursing at TC, said, “and I look forward to doing students, but I’m sharing the information of ‘Writing Across the Curriculum’.
“But well as ideas of teaching and the students. But I’m sharing the writing assignments to the nurse learning,” he said. “It’s becoming more and more apparent that people need to be skilled in writing,” he said. “The written work is important here as well and busy, but in the future.”
Writing leaves a clear message in other information as, “and lay it yourself.
“Written communication is a more permanent fashion than oral communication,” Finn said.
Students may agree, or disagree, with “Writing Across the Curriculum,” but the program is in effect at TC. So students, sharpen those pencils and get ready to be writing in all classes.