The Writer as Detective CASP Annual Conference November 5-7, 2008 Corpus Christi Dr. Karen Armitano Virginia Norquest South Texas College

Prior Developmental Curriculum: Smelly, Dead Body Found in Beginning-Level Writing Classroom Focused on THEA topics Non-relevant topics Formulaic essays Static curriculum

Theoretical Basis: Lessons from Science Steps to discovery planning, observing, analyzing evidence (making conclusions) evaluating evidence Effects of enriched environment: Brain study of rats

Theoretical Basis: Active Learning Johnson & Johnson– Active Learning: Cooperation in the College Classroom “…students actively construct their own knowledge…something a learner does, not something that is done to a learner.” “…learning is the social enterprise in which students need to interact with the instructor and classmates.”

The Search for Clues Writing to discover Identity : Community: “It is difficult to write analytically from the middle of confusion, and youth is a confusion in which the self and its desires have not yet sorted themselves out.” Philip Lopate in The Art of the Personal Essay Community: “To help poor writers, then, we need to explain that their writing takes place within a community, and to explain what the community’s conventions are.” Patricia Bizzell in Cross Talk in Composition Theory.

Investigative Cases: The Paper Work Who am I? How to Interview The Value of a College Education A Commencement Speech A Letter to College President

Curriculum Revival: The Student as Active Investigator Leave desks to conduct field work Relate to new college community-- Interview classmates, family members, faculty, and staff Investigate college environment Bring outside world into classroom community via YouTube and internet

Tools for Investigation of Community Summarize short stories via Summary Response journals Conduct interviews Address diverse audiences Research topics: EBSCO, library, internet, APA Correct grammatical errors through partner work/instructor feedback

Who Am I?: A Mystery to Be Solved (Identity Paragraph) Respond to community of readings with summary/response journal “Change of Attitude,” “Notes of a Translator’s Son,” and “Papa,” Sullivan Ballou on YouTube Brainstorm ideas for “Who Am I?” paragraph Focus on paragraph structure: topic sentence, details, description, length & format Do peer evaluation—audience awareness Sample paragraphs

How to Interview: First Steps to Discovery (Process) Guided lesson plan for essay Practice interviewing Considerations for process essay Outline of essay form Focus: Body paragraph, topic sentence, logical sequence Peer evaluation Sample essay

The Value of a College Education: Discovering Evidence (Illustration) Conduct Interviews (primary research) Take notes during interviews Identify main ideas on note cards Use main ideas to create a clear thesis Use lead-ins, interview details, & quotes Do peer evaluation Sample essay

Commencement Speech: Discovering Community (Persuasion) Watch, read, and react to Steve Jobs’ Commencement speech at Stanford (YouTube) Build a thesis Brainstorm barriers to a college education Write a persuasive speech—types of persuasive appeal Do peer evaluation & speech presentation Sample speech

Letter to College President: Discovering Purpose (Persuasion) Investigate campus conditions Choose a topic: food, fitness, or smoking Form groups and strategize approach Research in library, on college websites, and on campus Write letter to college president Do peer evaluation Publish letters & deliver to college president (authentic audience Sample letter

Mystery Solved: A Live Curriculum Students discover writing through: Active participation in class Awareness of importance of support Awareness of diverse audiences Active community engagement Active ownership of community

SO WHAT? Students enjoy the discovery process Students learn how to write Students aware of who they are in an academic community Instructors enjoy teaching the curriculum