Last week I introduced you to the first lessons I cover in freshman composition where students learn the basics they will need throughout the class, and they specifically focus on using narrative type elements.
The next assignment is to move into informative writing. There are two main goals with teaching informative writing: 1 – learning how to do/use research 2 – how to inform without focusing on opinion.
I’ve handled the research/informative paper in a variety of ways, but my plan had been to do a lesson called Punctuated Research. What this would have involved was to investigate issues around writing, especially issues that an individual student might have (like what on earth is a gerund?).
Some of the assignments in this unit (besides working on planning, drafting, and revising an essay on informing about some aspect of writing) would include:
- Free-write about something you are an expert on (or something you can explain without having to do research).
- Watch, write and discuss the video The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
What information do you receive from it? What would you research more? How video can fit into research. - I like introducing tech and some I usually introduce during this time include Storify and Prezi. I also l like to introduce tech that might help with research because I got so tired of hearing I LOST MY FLASH DRIVE. Save your stuff in the cloud, on your drive, print, multiple places! Some I liked to mention were social bookmarking type sites like Diigo, Scrible and Stixy.
- We cover MLA formatting. I also like to show them APA and have a discussion about what is different between the two so they can start thinking about WHY we bother with documentation.
- For some of our reading I liked to share Tips on Writing a Biography, and another on Mark Twain’s Bicycle. Exercise with that one usually had them free-writing what they know about Mark Twain, then discussing in small groups, then writing on the board what we know about him before the article and then after and how we could use the article and what we know to research more.
Hope that this will serve as a good record of some of what I was trying to do with teaching research. There is, of course, more to it that would be in textbooks like types of sources, how to properly cite etc. And, who knows, maybe you can find something to write about from looking at one of these items. You never know what might inspire you.
Next time there will be pirates . . .
You drew me in hook, line and sinker! I so want to take one of your on-line classes, but if you saw my FB post, there is no extra money right now. I have Boston in a few weeks and need to eat
Great post! I would hang on your every word if we lived close. I would say a mini me of you, but maybe gentle giant would suffice
Instead of offering specific online classes I’m offering, for the same price, one-on-one work anytime with anyone for 5 weeks where I’d develop a lesson plan specific to that person.
I’m also trying to hoard money for the trip to Boston. My flight, registration and all that was already paid in 2012, but I have to pay my half of hotel which will hurt a bit. Oh yeah, and I would like to eat although I do plan to find a drug store or something near by where I can get some granola bars or something for the room.
I am cooking one night, if we could figure out what night, suggestions? everyone can come over and eat! Bro in laws apartment is just a mile from the con. center. He won’t be home, and still not sure Athena is coming. Her divorce was final last week and she is down in the dumps. I told her it would be good for her to get out.
I will make plans to budget for you in March, although I have jury duty towards the end, but maybe we can discuss what would be good for me. Suggestions again, you know my work. I was just told by a fiction writer/author my new manuscript is not organized the way he thinks it should be, and he does not like my title. I feel like all I wanted from him, which I outlined in his letter, was to give me tips on how to organize. He is not a poet, so comments on my poetry and other stuff is annoying me
The poets who are reviewing it are for that 
He is also old school in age and practices on publishing. Do you feel it is good to get various opinions on something, or only go to friends you deal with regularly?
This AWP is going to be a major balancing act. I am coming in on Wednesday and leaving on Sunday, but I already have a dinner appointment for Friday night.I’m reading with SRP authors on Friday between 5-6 but not obligated to anything after that although there are some interesting things going on.
When I did my MFA thesis I had three very different readers. I think it helps to have a variety of voices. What I tell my students about receiving feedback is that you won’t use it all. You may only use 40% of it at most on your current project, but it gives you insight into other projects as well as how other people think.
The most dangerous person to read your work is someone who is just a cheerleader, but having a cheerleader in the midst of other voices can be a good thing to balance.
You are something else, Jessie! Great teaching techniques! And . ..just an idea .. .I would like to offer a scholarship for someone ( like Elizabeth!) for like half the cost, if that would help someone else be able to do a workshop with you.
Can’t wait to hear about the pirates!
Thanks for the offer, Debbie! I am going to try and advertise my services a bit more next week so I’ll let you know if that is something I wan to try and do