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The Importance of Writing: USQ's
(Usually Silent Questions)
"This isn't a writing course. Why are you insisting on high standards in composition? Why don't you just evaluate our ideas?"
All social science and humanities courses are, in part, writing courses. A writer cannot convince someone of complex thoughts in sentence fragments and unstructured essays. EDF 3604 is an upper-division college course, and it has the standards appropriate to such a course. Students at USF sacrifice a great deal to attend classes. I would be cheating students if I did not demand forceful writing.
"I hate writing!!!!"
Many students fear writing in college courses because they did not have good writing teachers in high school or the first two years in college or because they have been out of school for several years. In addition, many students in EDF 3604 work for more than 20 hours and fear the amount of time extensive writing entails. The sacrifices students make just to attend is real; so are the rewards of success. Every student in this course can improve her or his writing.
"Will you help us with our writing?"
Research about writing suggests that students who write consistently, receive substantive feedback, and reflect consciously about their writing improve more during a course than those who do not. Therefore, this course includes carefully structured assignments, feedback, and opportunities to reflect on the writing process and revise.
"Will you look at drafts?"
I encourage each student to meet with me at least once during the semester to discuss a writing draft. (Depending on my available time, I may have to limit additional conferences.) I encourage students to make an appointment with me and bring the draft to the appointment (or e-mail it before a phone conference). I will not look at drafts without talking to their authors.
My thanks to Rafael Carter (who uses the phrase "rarely asked questions") for encouraging truth-in-advertising on this webpage.