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Learning Innovations Golden Apple Grant Recipients
Final Reports
Fall 2005-1 through Summer B 2005-4
TITLE: Language Awareness: A New Approach to Successful Writing

GRANT RECIPIENTS:

Cheryl Clark – English/Communication – Wolfson Campus
cclark1@mdc.edu
ABSTRACT:

This project will explore a new approach to enhancing student writing in introductory composition classes by providing newly formulated activities, featured interactions with guest poets, and creative written assignments that place the language medium itself on center stage. Designed to help students become more expert language users through increased familiarity and awareness of linguistic functions on a more elemental, fundamental level, the course will facilitate not only better writing but more insightful critical reading and thinking as well.

Slated for implementation in ENC 1101, this project will develop and pilot strategies for teaching college-level written communication that can enhance retention and academic success for students in all disciplines when applied college-wide. What better way to sensitize students to language’s power and possibilities than frequent exposure and practice in reading and discussing literary selections in the classroom environment with writers who specialize in the finesse of language praxis.
PROJECT SUMMARY:

During the Spring Term of 2006 (2005-2), I implemented my Learning Innovations grant in a section of ENC 1101. Focusing on strategies within the language arts area – speaking, critical thinking, reading and writing – class time was dedicated to making students more aware of the role of language in all areas of academic work and general communications. Early on, students were introduced to the primary differences between writing and speaking as modes of communication, especially regarding the audience, word choice, and the formal nature of a logical argument.  Throughout the semester students practiced a variety of essay modes, rehearsing strategies discussed in class and illustrated through reading assignments.

Highlights of the semester were the visits by two nationally renowned poets, Catherine Bowman and Adrian Castro, whose appearances were facilitated through a collaboration with the Florida Center for the Literary Arts. Each writer spent a week with the students in class, sharing their experiences as practicing poets, and explaining their personal methodologies in language use. Students were given complimentary copies of each poet’s book, which were used as classroom texts for subsequent group discussion projects.

By the conclusion of the semester, students’ essay-writing abilities – assessed through an initial diagnostic essay test, a midterm assessment, and a final essay exam – improved considerably.
PROJECT RESULTS:

This project proved to be an excellent experience for students enrolled in this special topics class. With the focus on language use throughout, enhanced by the appearances and presentations of the visiting writers, students responded very favorably to this innovative academic experience.

Many of the assignments created for this special topics section of ENC 1101 have already proven useful in subsequent sections of this class.

(Samples of assignments are attached to the hardcopy version of this report submitted to the Learning Innovations Team.)

PLANS FOR DISSEMINATION:

Throughout the project, I have already begun to share some of these strategies with department colleagues here at Wolfson. I also plan to share my experiences with colleagues from other campuses college-wide on informal occasions, as well as at scheduled discipline committee meetings during the upcoming year.
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