The Quandary of Writing Across the Curriculum

Julie Foertsch's 1995 article, "Where Cognitive Psychology Applies: How Theories About Memory and Transfer Can Influence Composition Pedagogy" continues with the work of Michael Carter's 1990 piece, "The Idea of Expertise: An Exploration of Cognitive and Social Dimensions of Writing," which I wrote about previously. Foertsch begins by pointing out that the concept of transfer is …

Generalization versus transfer in first year composition

As I discuss in one of my first blog posts, questions of transfer are pertinent to first year composition.  The point I am trying to make in that early post is that often times faculty complaints about student writing are less about knowledge and ability and more about lack of transfer: What I believe is actually happening with …

The Bumpy Road to Expert Status

Articles Discussed  . Carter, M. (1990). The Idea of Expertise: An Exploration of Cognitive and Social Dimensions of Writing. College Composition and Communication, (3), 265. [Read]  . Foertsch, J. (1995). Where Cognitive Psychology Applies: How Theories about Memory and Transfer Can Influence Composition Pedagogy. Written Communication, 12(3), 360–83.  . Meyer, J. H. F., & Land, …

Teaching the Whole Student

Ann Neilson, Department chair of the Physical Education Department, discussed what she does in her winter sports class to teach the whole child. She came up with five dimensions for this: social, physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual (SPIES). For the social aspect Neilson has her students socialize with one another. They form groups early on …

Writing Tools

In honor of writing here is an article that discusses different devices for writing:  "Do You Have Something to Write With?" From notepads on phones, to real notepads, to post-its or PicoPads there are dozens of ways to write down information. And of course, there are dozens of situations one may find themselves in with the need …

Teaching Writing in the Disciplines

Megan Fulwiler, Associate Professor of English, discussed the history and Theory of Writing in the disciplines. In the 1980s the Writing Across the Curriculum Movement (WAC) began as a way to get students to write more professionally. Three functions of writing were determined: transactional, expressive, and poetic. Expressive writing is often used to improve transactional …