Harris, Joseph. "The Idea of Community in the Study of Writing." College Composition and Communication 40.1
(1989): 11-22. Print.
This Journal entry discusses terms like discourse community and rhetoric as well as theories on how to teach students of all age groups how to become effective writers. Readers understand a loose definition of discourse community to be a group of people with common interests that use jargon from that field in order to communicate and discuss related topics on a higher and more in depth level. Overall, Harris suggests that teachers encourage students to notice and participate in a large variety of social groups, also referred to as discourse communities, in order to come better writers and more active and interactive learners.
I believe this academic article is a very important piece to my group’s topic for a number of reasons. First, Harris mentions at least 3 other experts in the field in his article and sites their work so we can easily support any arguments of his that we use. Second, this article was written before the Common Core Standards for teaching writing were established and yet the basic ideas go hand in hand. Third, Harris provides specific examples of how to teach, but also leaves the concepts opened up enough to allow interpretation and adaptation. Forth, Harris’s ideas on teaching also support current classroom teaching methods of creating a “learning community” which tie in very nicely with other sources that I found. There are plenty of other reasons, but that will do for now. |
Harris, Karen R., Steve Graham, and Donald D. Deshler. Teaching Every Child Every Day:
Learning in Diverse Schools and Classrooms. Cambridge, MA: Brookline, 1998. Print.
Chapter 4 of this book is titled "Every Child Can Write: Strategies for Composition and Self-Regulation in the Writing Process." It goes into depth about Self-regulated strategy development (SRSD) and explains how to use other students to support peers as well as the obvious point of teaching students to monitor/regulate themselves. Karen Harris also gives detailed explanations of how to other teachers in order to properly implement and evaluate the system she calls SRSD. Overall, she stresses the importance of flexibility and modification of both teaching and learning styles in order to support and develop each other's abilities and skills. I chose this book because it lists and describes specific focuses. It not only identifies a variety of way learners learn, but it also spells out the steps involved in teaching those steps. The author uses several sources that can easily be brought into an argument if needed, but more importantly, supports each teaching concept with examples of how to apply and adapt them. |
"How to Write an Effective Essay: The Introduction." YouTube. YouTube, 11 July 2011. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.
In this YouTube video, the idea of how to get the reader's attention and keep it is addressed. The video teaches how outlines are used to help direct an essay and how it can be used to easily reorganize how the material is presented. Overall, the viewer walks away realizing that they need to grab a reader’s attention by catching them off guard in an interesting way and then hold onto by linking the topic and the arguments to the initial statement.
The video was selected because it breaks-down what most people struggle with as writers into steps that they could fill-out and then feel a sense of accomplishment. This gives them a reason to keep going because they can see that they are making progress while at the same time, providing them a flexible structure to use when they go to actually write the essay. |
"How to Write an Effective Essay." YouTube. YouTube, 08 Aug. 2009. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.
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The overall idea of this video lesson is that starting by asking a question is the key to writing an effective essay. The answer to that question is the starting point of the essay. That answer can be presented in a variety of way, but must be stated clearly and be supported by at least 3 main ideas. The instructor in the video recommends that each main idea be proved through 3 supporting ideas that also support the answer to the initial question.
I selected this video because it is a lesson that is easily understood, relatively short, and relevant to the groups topic of teaching writing. It gives a quick snap-shot of how to get started on writing that can be applied to a variety of writing. It is also interesting enough to keep the attention of just about anyone while at the same time, just by being a YouTube video, supports the concept that technologies can be effectively used to teach how to write. |
"Inspired Summer Writing Ideas from Writers in the Schools | TWC." Inspired Summer Writing Ideas from Writers
in the Schools | TWC. N.p., 4 June 2012. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.
This is a website that discusses all different aspects of writing. There are lesson plans for teachers, workshops for students and writers, as well as calendars for events, and blogs where participants talk about teaching, writing, and everything in between. The overall message is that writing is done with a purpose in mind and that both teachers and students will improve by keeping this concept in mind.
The writers present materials in a fundamental, positive and interesting way. Our group can use this site for examples of how to write lesson plans, create good practices, as well as information on writing workshops and conventions. Their aim is to lead and inspire, rather than debate or argue about what styles work best so we can pick and chose what ideas to support and which ones we want to refute. Also, they promote a specific strategy on how to teach writing, but agree that it’s a process and they to support that proves so it makes their material very versatile. (note: Used this website for and intro to WA, Module 2 project for Prof. Courtney) |
MaryCarrollMoore. "Your Book Starts Here - Storyboarding for Writers." YouTube. YouTube, 29 Jan. 2011. Web. 06
Nov. 2012.
The overall idea of this video is that different pieces of writing can be worked together into one cohesive story.
This is done through story boarding and developing a manuscript. The presenter describes how storyboarding can be used to develop characters and plots. She also gives good examples of how to write a story in a way that keeps the reader engaged through ups and downs in the plot that she illustrates by using the letter "W." The letter "W" is also used to illustrate how the use of 3 acts corresponds with these conflicts and resolutions. This video provides impute on how to use low technological, unorthodox methods to develop a story. We can use it as a way to counter popular methods as well as arguments that say using technology is more innovative. This process is low pressure and flexible enough to fix any story and any environment. |
TeachTCI. "Writing for Understanding." YouTube. YouTube, 04 Oct. 2010. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.
This video gives specific instructions for teachers and students to follow in order to better understand the writing process. Students are given a specific topic to read about; told to pull about specific parts of the material, such as quotes; and then assigned a variety of activities which allow them to experience the material in ways that helps them to develop a deeper understanding before they are instructed to use their new found knowledge and complete the final project.
This video is useful to my group. I chose to use it because it does a good job of providing a quick snapshot of how effective the method is. It also provides a clear understanding of all the steps involved in the method while at the same time, leaves enough room for a teacher to adapt the it to their own teaching style or to their students’ learning styles. |
Wiggins, Grant P., and Jay McTighe. Understanding by Design. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development, 2005. Print.
This textbook provides an in-depth understanding of how teachers can prepare themselves to teach students about any subject by thinking about where they want the student to end up. In other words, it helps people (future teachers) understand the process of planning activities that are going to allow students to understand the material being taught. I chose this text book because it ties in with all of the teaching concepts that my other sources support. The entire text provides theory and support for my perspective about teaching in general and pages 93, 94, and 120 spell out specific writing techniques that fall in line with all of the videos I chose to support this text. |
WwwLuanneRicecom. "Advice To Young Writers." YouTube. YouTube, 27 Sept. 2010. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.
The narrator’s mother taught her to write by starting with 3 sentences and practicing each day. She describes this as thinking like a writer. Her process is to brainstorm and jot down notes each day in a note book. The note book acts as an endless supply of ideas to write about. She then takes the ideas and begins by writing a few sentences and then expanding by developing a character. The process is a very personal writing style that allows writers to connect with the characters in order to write about them.
This video supports the perspective of beginning the writing process with a paper and pen vs using technology. I chose it because of its quirkiness. It’s completely different from the instructional reading found in my other sources and really personalizes both writing and the process it involves. I also chose it because it should fit well with other group members’ concepts which may help us tie our material together. |
Zontulfilmsltd. "How to Write a Good Essay." YouTube. YouTube, 25 Oct. 2011. Web. 06 Nov. 2012.
This YouTube video advises writers to focus on writing five good paragraphs. Like many others, they explain that the first is a good introduction, the second and third are supporting reasons that include arguments both for and against a subject. However, this video indicates that paragraph four is the most important. This is where you cleverly use both sides of the argument to back-up what your perspective is in order to convince the reader to see things your way. The last paragraph reproves your position, but does it without using quotes or summarizing other people’s works like paragraph four.
I chose this video because it focuses on one specific type of writing, but includes ideas and theories that correspond with other forms of writing. It also does not instruct the viewer to “state, restate and then summarize.” It argues that that method is a waste of the reader’s time. This video is one of a very few that supports that concept and will allow my group to consider and include a different perspective. |
Additional sources used.
Works Cited
Bellis, Mary. "Johannes Gutenberg and the Printing Press." About.com Inventors. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.
http://inventors.about.com/od/gstartinventors/a/Gutenberg.htm
Bellis, Mary. N.p., n.d. Web.
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa100197.htm
"Discourse Community." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Nov. 2012. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discourse_community
"F.G. Keller." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Jan. 2012. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.G._Keller#Keller.27s_invention
"History of Paper." N.p., n.d. Web.
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/literature/paper.htm
Kilmon, Jack. "History of Writing." History of Writing. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.
http://www.historian.net/hxwrite.htm
"Parchment." N.p., n.d. Web.
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/literature/parchment.htm.
Ryan, Donald. "Ancient Languages and Scripts." N.p., n.d. Web.
http://www.plu.edu/~ryandp/texts.html
Works Cited
Bellis, Mary. "Johannes Gutenberg and the Printing Press." About.com Inventors. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.
http://inventors.about.com/od/gstartinventors/a/Gutenberg.htm
Bellis, Mary. N.p., n.d. Web.
http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa100197.htm
"Discourse Community." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Nov. 2012. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discourse_community
"F.G. Keller." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Jan. 2012. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F.G._Keller#Keller.27s_invention
"History of Paper." N.p., n.d. Web.
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/literature/paper.htm
Kilmon, Jack. "History of Writing." History of Writing. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Dec. 2012.
http://www.historian.net/hxwrite.htm
"Parchment." N.p., n.d. Web.
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/literature/parchment.htm.
Ryan, Donald. "Ancient Languages and Scripts." N.p., n.d. Web.
http://www.plu.edu/~ryandp/texts.html