Teaching college writing to first year students is like herding cats. It's difficult and sometimes I question why we do it. This is not my way of questioning why we teach students to write, because I believe every student has an inner writer. But I know that not every student in my class is going to need to write a personal narrative. Not every student is going to need to know MLA style. In fact, I really question the validity of this system.
So, why is teaching them how to write an English thing? Why isn’t there writing in the discipline course for each major? Since most students are not English majors, why is writing specifically an English course? Do we think that a college writing course, designed to hammer out the mechanics of grammar, syntax is sufficient? I don't.
Every discipline has their own writing style and technique, so why don’t grad psych students teach psychology writing 101? In almost every major, the possible exception being the English major because writing is considered a part of the English discipline, students enter their major without knowing how to "talk the talk" so to speak. They know there is a language of their discipline, they’ve seen it, come close to understanding it, and find themselves near drowning in it. Students get that there is something called "good writing" but they don't know how to do it and because they don't do it perfectly the first time they think they never will.
Pardon my gender stereotyping for a moment, while I make a point.
It’s like a little girl watching her mother put on make up. The results when the child attempts to make up her own face are bound to be near comical parodies of her mother’s careful actions. However, with practice, and a bit of fashion sense, the poor child will stop fixing herself up like Bobo the clown or Mimi from the Drew Carey show. She'll develop her own style and it will become as natural to her as breathing. However, if her father (without begging gender or sexual orientation questions) were to teach her, she might not ever learn how to properly use make up. Why? Because her teacher was not an expert in the subject. Writing is like this. We need the right teacher so that when we make the mistakes we can be corrected so that we can learn how to do it properly.
If each major had a writing course and let their students write from that perspective, their writing would be more focused and could develop with an eye to their future career. I could picture this model working so well. We know there is a need. We could do one semester of college writing, a general overview of the nuts and bolts of writing, then send the students to more specified writing courses. This would ease them in to their professional or academic language much more effectively then our current method.
This idea seems logical. I guess that's why it has no place in higher learning.
Sigh. And we wonder why the humanities are struggling?
**Legal Disclaimer: This post does not reflect the opinions of the University of Louisiana, the English Department, or anyone else who might think I'm putting words in their mouth. This post is intended to get students thinking about why all majors take a basic writing course in the English department. It is not challenging any university or departmental policies.
I agree with you very much.
ReplyDeleteI am a biology major/ Pre-Med, and though I am looking forward to learning new techniques in writing and whatnot, I really won't benefit from this class as much as I would if there was a Biology Writing 101.
It would be great, I could learn to "talk the talk" like you said, and with that, better prepare myself for med school with all of the terminology that would come along with that course.
One reason I see that no one has suggested this is because hardly any student stays in one major. Lets say someone says, "Oh! I want to be mathematician!" So he takes the "Math Writing 101" class and later decides that being a mathematician is just not right for him. So then he decides "OH! I want to be a doctor!" So then he goes off and takes "Biology Writing 101". Then he wants to change his major again!
This would turn into a fight every time he decided to change his major, making him less likely to pursue what he really wants. College is a place to find out what you really want to be in life, and a lot of people change their mind to make sure that they can become what it is they truly seek out of life.
Not to mention, a lot more money would be spend for this way rather than the one we have now. Money from the student, and money from the University to pay the teachers.
Another reason is a lack of teachers/ professors. Though our university has lots and lots of teachers, we aren't nearly staffed enough to handle this. I guess maybe some teachers could step up and volunteer to participate, but lets face it, most math teachers hate writing. As well as other subjects that also dislike writing as well.
With the way it is now, if I decide Biology is not for me, then I don't have to retake an English Writing class. I can just continue on with my new major.
Really, I believe that the first two years of college is there for you to decide what you would really like to major in. If you notice, the first two years for a Biology major, an English major, and even a Math major are almost identical.
Don't get me wrong, I really like your idea of there being a writing class for each major, but unfortunately for that reason, I don't see it as being practical.
Great point, Noel! Almost 80% of college students do change their major at least once. That means that they might end up taking 2 or more major centered writing courses. And, while I don't think that's a bad thing, I can see how that could get tedious and expensive. Perhaps, then, as I mentioned, the first section of 101 could be general and then the second/or advanced writing course could be major oriented, but not required until the student is a junior. Usually by this time, students are more settled on a major. And, maybe if it was a bit more difficult to change majors, students would spend a bit more time researching them before they sign up for a major and then jump ship the first time they get a bad grade in a hard course.
ReplyDeleteAnd those math professors probably don't like to write because they never really learned/were required to learn how. If we changed the system maybe we could make a new breed of science/math majors and professors. I can't tell you how many engineering, math, and science majors in completing their Masters or PhD need help with their thesis or dissertation from an English major. And then they get all bent out of shape when we charge for editing services. Really, they're going to make triple what an English major will make, and you're going to quibble about a few dollars an hour? But I digress.
As for not having enough teachers. You're right. American colleges are woefully underfunded. Many other countries have a much better system for higher education, which means college is affordable for the students, and there are (in theory) enough teachers to meet the needs of the university. Until we fix the education system in America, that will remain an issue.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I understand what Professor Anderson is saying but I, too, lean/agree with Noel's comment. If I was student that was changing majors multiple times and had to take the required "101" writing classes then I would definately get discouraged in pursing my majors. This idea would hold a student back much longer in school and would make he/she hesitant in changing their majors in the future.
ReplyDeleteLyly and Noel,
ReplyDeleteWould this be as significant if the student did not have to retake writing? They could choose to or not, so long as they had one major themed writing course. I suppose it wouldn't be much different than now if Biology Betty took Bio writing 102 and then realized she was really English Elizabeth. Since students are getting an English major themed writing class now, if they didn't have to change their writing class would this method work?
I agree with everything that was said above. As an engineering major, I probably will not have to describe a machine I design very elegantly. Despite this fact, I believe that in these basic writing classes, it is not all about writing, but about how one approaches a problem such as "Where do I go now?" or "Where should I put this paragraph". These questions and the answers that come with them provide us with the ability to analyze something and also improve problem solving skills. Despite what one's future career may be, I believe that this course may benefit everyone of every major.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this. My favorite part of this is the little girl trying to put her make up on. It is so true. I never really looked at it like that and it is very true. I know for sure if my daddy would have taught me i would deffinately be in the circus. Although, my mom did not teach me I still had a female figure to teach me. No male figure would be right. I never enjoyed English until my senior year in highschool. That was the only year I really liked my teacher and could relate to the way she was teaching. Not just any person can come in and teach an English class. It has to be someone who actually cares about English and understands it well enough.
ReplyDeleteBobby, well said. If as many students support the current system so fully, then perhaps it deserves another look.
ReplyDeleteChelsie, I think you're right that not just anyone can teach English. How do you feel about Grad students teaching courses? Is this a good idea or a bad idea?
Of course writing and english paper is not the some as writing a paper for a biology class. I mean who cares how the cells "felt" right? But I do think the skills from a writing class, including this one, will be helpful in writing anything. When writing an english essay you have to focus on organization. Organizing a paper successfully is a skill that needs to be learned. You also learn things such as, whats a good writing environment for you, you're strengths and weakness regarding procrastination, and how the writing process works. Of course your focus in the paper may be different depending on your discipline but none the less still similar.
ReplyDeleteTo answer the question about graduate student teachers, its the luck of the draw honestly. I didnt even realize that Mrs. Anderson was a grad student. All I noticed was that she really like polka-dots :)I've heard terrible stories about grad student teachers, but I've also heard good ones. It's just like good teachers and bad teachers, they're everywhere!
Danelle,
ReplyDeleteYou know, I hadn't noticed how much polka dots had infiltrated my wardrobe. Guilty as charged.
I ask about grad student teachers, because I never had one as an undergrad. I went to a tiny school in NH for my undergradue so I can't compare. I think it is strange, and a little scary from this vantage point, that someone with relatively little teaching experience is put in front of students not that far from her age. Unlike high school teachers, there is no student teaching with a mentor for college professor. It's a sink or swim program. Do you think that's fair to the students or the new teacher?