EFFECTIVELY PLANNING AND EXPLAINING ASSIGNMENTS THAT YIELD SUCCESSFUL WRITING

1. EFFECTIVELY PLANNING AND EXPLAINING ASSIGNMENTS THAT YIELD SUCCESSFUL WRITING WIP BROWN BAG SERIES #1 SEPTEMBER 17, 2013 PAMELA FLETCHER, FACILITATOR

2. CHALLENGES OF CREATING ASSIGNMENTSTHAT YIELD SUCCESSFUL WRITING • 1. What do you grapple with in creating writing assignments? a. Trying to achieve too much? b. Giving too few or too many directions? c. Assignment too broad? • 2. Have you ever tried to complete the assignment yourself? • Discovered any pitfalls?

3. Group Exercise: Getting the Best Outcome in a Written Assignment • As a group, choose one of the assignments and decide what specific process and procedures the instructor could suggest to help students write a high-quality paper. • Consider the following questions to help you think of specific instructions: • What competencies, methods, or skills are necessary to achieve successful writing in this course’s discipline? • Different assignments call for different competencies, methods, or skills. What learning outcome(s) should students learn and what abilities should they demonstrate in this writing assignment? • What universal abilities should students exhibit in any of the assignments?

4. Discussion • What questions, concerns, comments arose in your group discussion? • Let’s review the following handouts for students: - Achieving Focus in writing - Prospectus - Audience and Purpose - Thesis Statement Exercise

5. References Hacker, D., & Sommers, N. (2010).The Bedford Handbook (8th ed.). Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s. Walvoord, B. E. F. (1982). Helping Students Write Well: A Guide for Teaching in All Disciplines. New York: The Modern Language Association of America.