Re: address to the troops

Thanks much, will -- I know your background in this...

The class is only half semester, so most of it focuses on a final
research paper. Students review each other's papers and are asked to
answer specific questions about the writing and content in their
reviews, and are allowed to select pretty much any researchable topic
for their final papers. They also read essays about writing -- Orwell,
Didion, Pynchon, Galbraith this semester -- and write short responses
which require they apply the ideas in the essays to research writing.

So I think all the pieces you mention are in place, except the obvious
one of asking the student herself what else I can do for her or the class.

Duh.

Jim

PS That college conference sounds good...I hadn't considered attending,
but it may be a good idea. There a website?

Will Hochman wrote:

> Jim, I have some experience teaching first-year college students to do
> research writing. When I get advanced students, I challenge them in
> two ways. I let all of my students develop their own essay ideas, so
> that allows them each to work as individuals. But I also use a lot of
> workshopping and collaboration in my classes, and I let some of the
> strongest students know that I think they should be co-teachers. In
> other words, you can challenge your talented young student to do
> individual work beyond the general level of work in the class and you
> can also include her in before or after class discussions about how to
> improve the class.
>
> The College Conference on Composition and Communication is meeting in
> NYC in Mid-March. I've always found great answers to my teaching
> questions there...any chance you are presenting/attending?
>
> Also, Eberhard Alsen's/ A Reader's Guide J.D. Salinger/ has a very
> nice little discussion of "Salinger's Philosophy of Composition." You
> might enjoy it,
>
> will
>

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Received on Fri Feb 21 11:04:50 2003