PADE April 3, 2014

Gettysburg, PA

Write Right, Right?A Collaborative Approach to Student Accountability in Developmental Writing

AbstractDeveloped three-pronged approach, coordinating Learning Center and Library services with classroom instruction.

Goal: to create a comprehensive academic support system that increases student engagement and long-term success

Strategies: devoted instruction from a librarian and an academic success representative

Also facilitate referrals to other support services, such as counseling, disability services, and career services.

Barriers to successinability to articulate goals and self-assessinability to break down an assignment into

manageable piecesdifficulty evaluating academic sourcesstruggle to read scholarly articlesdifficulty developing ideas into a well-

organized paperchallenges with written communication

Learning OutcomesDemonstrate competence in writing about reading by

refining active and critical reading skills

Demonstrate basic skills in information management including managing bibliographic information, locating and citing sources, maintaining academic honesty, and avoid plagiarism

Use computer technology for word processing, researching library database systems, and/or the internet

Goal Setting and Academic Support Personal Meetings (3x)Learning Center: how to read a syllabus and an

assignment along with time managementLibrary: academic integrity & how to use the

libraryJournal Activities

Personal Meeting #1, Homework• What is College to me?• Why do I want to go to College?• What is the one quote, keyword, song,

person, or image that you can call upon when you need motivation in class? Why?

• Respond to the CNN interview with Malala Yousafzai

• Complete the handout titled, “My English Essentials Action Plan.” 

Personal Meeting #1, Agenda• Discuss answers to the journal questions• Receive personalized feedback on the

first-day writing sample• Develop an action plan for class success • Receive individualized advice about HACC

support services

From Personal MeetingsSample – as low as middle school level. Motivated, but is at risk. Coming from 050. No support system at home; family thinks college is a waste of time. He has no goals, except to get a better job than at the grocery store. Suggested he see Amanda and do all his work in the Learning Center/on campus and less at home.

Sample – 050/051 level; spent most

time discussing how stressed he is by his

course load and work/life schedule.

We discussed options for him and I sent him to see his

advisor.

Sample – paragraphing/grammar issues, but shows creativity. She likes to read. Was cyber schooled. Never had a classroom

structure or had to meet strict deadlines/expectations. Feels

misunderstood by her family. Grew up sheltered and she’s shy. But, she’s bursting

to shine. A diamond in the rough.

“Military/family man. Has learning gaps; but just needs to

brush up. Is eager to do what is asked of him to succeed for

his daughter.”

More concerned about student’s well-being than writing. Severe depression; can’t move beyond brother’s death. No emotional support at home. Contact counselor for possible intervention.

Relevance and Engagement: Journal1. 5 Sections

Daily Writing Prompts Vocabulary and Questions Scholarly Articles Pre-writing Grammar and Writing Note

2. Their Functions Personal goal setting Note-taking Processing Brainstorming and Prewriting Critical Thinking Vocabulary Building Self-Reflection

1. Write 1-paragraph explaining specifically how you see written communication as being a part of your chosen profession.

2. Write 1-paragraph explaining what you can do now in this class to better prepare for your chosen profession.

3. Bring in an employment ad for a job in your chosen profession.Write a 1-2paragraph analysis of the ad. Consider the type of candidate the employer is looking for. What personal traits and professional skills does the employer want in the candidate? Look at both the literal wording, like “team player,” but also what the words imply, like “willing to work late.” Determine how you “measure-up” at this point and make a list of traits/skills you will need to work on in order to compete for the position after you graduate.

Career Preparation

Learning CenterMechanics of tutoring servicesDissected course syllabusReviewed family Heritage essay assignment

Back to Basics

Created a binder•concrete, visual•framework to discuss syllabus & essay•the right tool for organization

OutcomesCollaborationStudent responsesCoaching Appointments

Information Literacy•Why we use research•Difference between an academic and popular article•How to read a journal article•How to use a journal article in an essay•Evaluating websites•Definition of plagiarism•Using Library Databases and D2L

Evaluation ResultsLocation of library (1)Location of databases and catalog on website

(4)How to search databases and catalog (6)How to read and article to see if it is

applicable (1)How to evaluate websites (1)

Reading and Writing ConnectionHome and Family essay - Research report on a topic developed

around the themes in the book, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. Topics included: marriage roles, parental alcoholism, and the wage

gap. Guidelines – 2 pages; 2 sources (HACC Library databases); no personal

experience or use of “I;” no use of the novel in the essay. Overview: The point of this essay is to research a topic inspired by our

reading of The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio. You will be asked to write an academic research report that explains one of the topics in detail, as instructed. This essay assignment asks you to use related key definitions, theories, research, and statistics as they apply to the chosen topic and your thesis. Choose the topic to which you can best relate. Researching one of these topics may help you understand a personal issue you face. Armed with knowledge about these issues we can often improve our lives. Knowledge can be a true source of power.

Academic CoachingIndividual use of tutorsIndividual coaching appointmentsIndividual research appointments

Assessment and FeedbackFeedback FormsAnecdotal ObservationsStudent Assignment Assessment

Class Stats: 22 enrolled; 2 never attended; 3 dropped (1/health issues;

1/behavioral; 1 dropped out of HACC)Midterm grades: A (2); B (7); C (5); D (3)

Scantron Grammar Test: A (1), B (10); C (4); D (2); F (0) Essays: A (2); B (7); C (4); D (2); F (1); 0 (1) Attendance remains strong. Only 1 or 2 people are consistently absent;

everyone else is present and engaged each class.

Writing Samples – Family HeritageOverview: The point of this essay is to explore those influences in our lives that have shaped who we are and how we see the world. This essay assignment asks you to consider a key skill, lesson, or personal trait you have learned from a family member. You could also consider why a traditional event is important to your heritage. Remember, the focus is on the lesson.

“When a child is young it is such an important time to build bonds and teach life skills. This helps children who are deprived of these opportunities. When I was younger, my mom and dad taught me a lot by having a family game night with my sister and me every weekend. They wanted to have family time to teach us and pass down valuable lessons to use with our own families. Again for a child, even just something like family game night can teach us life lessons, strategies that can be passed down and develop child’s character on who they will be when they are an adult.”

“For a child, your biggest role models are your parents. However, in my situation my biggest negative role model was my father. My father was the kind of person who taught me everything about what not to do in life. My father taught me three important life skills, one, he taught me that being selfish gets you nowhere in life and it makes people not like you. Two, he taught me how lying does nothing but get you in trouble. And third, he taught me how cheating can ruin lives. “

“Every child growing up deserves to have both parents in the picture. If one leaves then the development [of] the thought process and in essence the person is changed entirely. But the change doesn’t need to be for used in a bad way, what if the child takes the negative and uses it as a [positive] standard later in life? There are people like me, who have faced head on severe lessons in life and turned the negatives into a type of motivation to change the future. In this essay I will tell the story of my making and the lessons I learned in the t[m]aking of this life. “

In Closing

It sometimes takes courage to persevere, but with a support team promoting goal setting and academic success, the student can stand tall.

Q&ALeslie Boon, Campus Director Academic Success,

lmboon@hacc.eduHeidi Gillis, Adjunct Librarian, hhgillis@hacc.eduAmanda Hartzel, Specialist, Academic Success

amhartze@hacc.eduKathleen Heidecker, Librarian, kbheidec@hacc.eduCristal Renzo, Assistant Professor, English,

clrenzo@hacc.edu