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The Writer as Detective

At the CASP Annual Conference in November 2008, Dr. Karen Armitano from South Texas College presented innovative strategies for teaching writing in developmental classrooms. Focusing on active learning and community engagement, this session emphasized the role of students as investigators in their learning process. Participants explored topics such as formulaic essays, the effects of enriched environments, and the importance of peer interactions. The curriculum encouraged learners to embrace their identities and construct knowledge through writing by engaging with real-world issues and diverse audiences.

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The Writer as Detective

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

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

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

  4. 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.”

  5. The Search for Clues • Writing to discover • Identity : • “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.

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

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