Comments for Junior Seminars http://blog.stetson.edu/jrseminars at Stetson University Wed, 04 Aug 2010 13:51:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 Comment on Writing Intensive Pedagogies by mboneill http://blog.stetson.edu/jrseminars/archives/364/comment-page-1#comment-5 mboneill Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:29:43 +0000 http://blog.stetson.edu/jrseminars/?p=364#comment-5 Anne, If I can address the question about the grading...it is definitely understood in writing intensive courses that not all writing is graded. In fact it often works to the students' benefit to not be graded; it's hard to learn and be judged at the same time. It's important for a WI course to parcel out writing assignments in terms of low stakes, medium stakes, and high stakes, with no or only formative/responsive commentary on low stakes, informal writing. Your approach---read, and perhaps give response, without grading--is pedagogically very sound. I would recommend some level of response, though, directed at their critical reading perhaps or pointing out questions they may not realize are excellent questions to ask. That kind of response (rather than assessing them) lets them follow a train of thought or expand their reading abilities without the worry about how their journal is weighted in the final course grade. Megan Anne,

If I can address the question about the grading…it is definitely understood in writing intensive courses that not all writing is graded. In fact it often works to the students’ benefit to not be graded; it’s hard to learn and be judged at the same time. It’s important for a WI course to parcel out writing assignments in terms of low stakes, medium stakes, and high stakes, with no or only formative/responsive commentary on low stakes, informal writing. Your approach—read, and perhaps give response, without grading–is pedagogically very sound.

I would recommend some level of response, though, directed at their critical reading perhaps or pointing out questions they may not realize are excellent questions to ask. That kind of response (rather than assessing them) lets them follow a train of thought or expand their reading abilities without the worry about how their journal is weighted in the final course grade.

Megan

]]> Comment on Writing Intensive Pedagogies by Anne Hallum http://blog.stetson.edu/jrseminars/archives/364/comment-page-1#comment-4 Anne Hallum Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:06:35 +0000 http://blog.stetson.edu/jrseminars/?p=364#comment-4 I have been preparing syllabi last week and this, and have added the "Double-Entry Journal" idea for course readings.... To me this is a great suggestion (thanks for the articles, Karen), because it is a more creative and "friendly" way to check that students have done the reading, instead of a quiz or "book report." I am eager to see how it works. One question I have is about how to grade the writing in the journals.... That is, I was going to check that the journal entries were made, but not grade the writing since it is informal.... So, for these "writing intensive" seminars, is it understood that some writing is not for grading? p.s. Has a date been set for an August workshop? I have been preparing syllabi last week and this, and have added the “Double-Entry Journal” idea for course readings…. To me this is a great suggestion (thanks for the articles, Karen), because it is a more creative and “friendly” way to check that students have done the reading, instead of a quiz or “book report.” I am eager to see how it works.
One question I have is about how to grade the writing in the journals…. That is, I was going to check that the journal entries were made, but not grade the writing since it is informal…. So, for these “writing intensive” seminars, is it understood that some writing is not for grading?

p.s. Has a date been set for an August workshop?

]]> Comment on Oral Communications by Hala ElAarag http://blog.stetson.edu/jrseminars/archives/368/comment-page-1#comment-3 Hala ElAarag Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:37:39 +0000 http://blog.stetson.edu/jrseminars/?p=368#comment-3 Michael, I cannot find the college manual for oral communication. Could you please post it? Michael,
I cannot find the college manual for oral communication. Could you please post it?

]]> Comment on Oral Communications by Michael McFarland http://blog.stetson.edu/jrseminars/archives/368/comment-page-1#comment-2 Michael McFarland Wed, 26 May 2010 16:03:09 +0000 http://blog.stetson.edu/jrseminars/?p=368#comment-2 I don't necessarily want to be "the guy" on this, but perhaps we could start an online discussion about this requirement. Online will, of course, be less intrusive than getting together for a meeting. I'll begin by listing some types of oral comm that I would think count toward this requirement. Feel free to add or subtract. Formal presentations Informal presentations Group presentations Debate Class discussion Group discussion The very nature of a seminar should help foster oral communication in the classroom -- but I don't think that is enough. Years ago, Susan Wilson and I did a short manual for the college on oral communication across the curriculum -- if your department still has its copy (assuming you can find it), you might start with that. If enough of you don't have it, I will try to track it down and post it. I don’t necessarily want to be “the guy” on this, but perhaps we could start an online discussion about this requirement. Online will, of course, be less intrusive than getting together for a meeting.

I’ll begin by listing some types of oral comm that I would think count toward this requirement. Feel free to add or subtract.

Formal presentations
Informal presentations
Group presentations
Debate
Class discussion
Group discussion

The very nature of a seminar should help foster oral communication in the classroom — but I don’t think that is enough.

Years ago, Susan Wilson and I did a short manual for the college on oral communication across the curriculum — if your department still has its copy (assuming you can find it), you might start with that. If enough of you don’t have it, I will try to track it down and post it.

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