Teaching a Themed ENC1102 Course

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Teaching a Themed ENC1102 Course

• It seems to me, then, that the way to help people
  become better writers is not to tell them that
  they must first learn the rules of grammar, that
  they must develop a four-part outline, that they
  must consult the experts and collect all the
  useful information. These things may have their
  place. But none of them is as crucial as having a
  good, interesting question.
• Rodney Kilcup qtd. in AllynBacon

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Why should I use a theme to teach ENC 1102?

• Reinforces Allyn Bacons idea that writing and
  research should strive to answer a question
• Unites individual reading and writing assignments
  under a common goal or purpose
• Connects students work to a larger context,
  giving it relevance outside the classroom
• Provides an additional level of structure for the
  course
• Addresses difficulties in our students critical
  thinking
• Allows students to build upon the content of
  previous assignments
• Provides the writer a greater sense of authority
  or expertise
• Encourages further research and exploration
• Adds interest for the ENC teacher
• Students like it too!

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How do I choose a theme for my class?

• Start with a problem. What recurring issues do
  you notice in your classes?
• The biggest challenges I found with students were
  a lack of critical thinking, a heavy reliance on
  generalizations, egocentrism and apathy for the
  outside world.
• Provide a question for the class the solve
  throughout the semester
• Larger umbrella topics work better as themes,
  because they provide a greater variety of reading
  and research options from which to choose
• Connect the theme to interests or issues relevant
  to the students lives to achieve a higher level
  of engagement
• Themes should be purposeful and support the
  course objectives for ENC1102

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How do I integrate a theme into class assignments?

• Briefly address the theme in the syllabus and
  during the first day(s) of the semester. Pose the
  question that the students will be asked to
  solve.
• Class discussions and activities during the term
  should still focus on the lessons of Allyn
  Bacon and writing as a process
• Use brief writing assignments (such as online
  journals, news reports, or movie chats) to expose
  students to your theme outside of class time
• Tailor the reading selections for analytical
  essays to explore different aspects of the theme
  across genres
• In the exploratory essay assignment, allow
  students to research a question of their choice
  under the larger theme of X
• Use the Proposing a Solution essay to challenge
  students to find a solution to one specific
  problem under the larger theme. This essay
  requires students to solve the courses
  question.

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Potential Pitfalls to Avoid

• Do not choose a bad theme
• a theme is that narrowly focused on a particular
  idea, author, style, or genre of writing
• a theme that ignores ENC1102 objectives
• a theme that is more teacher-centered than
  student-centered
• topics with religious slant may make it difficult
  for students to make logic-based arguments
• Do not turn a writing course into a literature
  course
• class discussions and activities should be
  developed to help students improve as writers
  first and foremost
• Do not overwhelm students and teachers workload
  for the sake of the theme

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Using marginalization as a theme

• The theme of this class is rethinking
  marginalization.  We will read works that center
  on significant issues of class, race, gender, and
  cultural identities. Ultimately, you will join in
  the conversation with renowned authors, such as
  Amy Tan, Martin Luther King, Jr., and bell hooks,
  through a series of your own essay writings in
  the final portfolio.
• Literature to teach under the theme of
  marginalization
• Border Texts Cultural Readings for Contemporary
  Writers, ed. Randall Bass
• Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther
  King Jr.
• Sexism and Misogyny Who Takes the Rap by bell
  hoooks
• Mother Tongue by Amy Tan
• Throwing Like a Girl by James Fallows
• The White Mans Indian by Robert Berkhofer
• A Long Line of Vendidas by Cherrie Moraga
• Say Yes by Tobias Wolff
• When I Was a Little Cuban Boy by Richard Blanco
• Persimmons by Li-Young Lee
• Sensational Barbie by Denise Duhamel
• Between Angels and Monsters by Yusef Komunyakaa
• Song to the Mango by Virgil Suarez
• Housewife by Anne Sexton
• Homo Will Not Inherit by Mark Doty

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Students Responses in Online Journal Entries

• I really liked the idea of it having a theme.
  Marginalization is a great topic to have
  discussions and write about because there are
  many different ideas and opinions to take into
  consideration. The theme was real and something
  that everyone can relate to. I think that when it
  comes to deciding on a theme it's important that
  its something that everyone can relate to. My
  views have changed because I have realized that
  marginalization can really cause horrible pain
  in our world, and by people simply being aware of
  it, it can really change the world. Adriana
  Vazquez
• Going back to the marginalization topic, at the
  beginning of the course I was a bit skeptical
  about whether I belonged in this particular
  English class, but I have to say that after
  handing in the first assignment my mind became
  free of those thoughts. Like I said before, the
  marginalization theme helped open my eyes to the
  many form that it has taken in the past and still
  takes in our society today. I was able to gain a
  better understanding of different groups of
  people and how marginalization applies to and
  affects their lives every day. Adiel Hoch
• Over the last few months, i felt that i have
  really being thoroughly educated in the field of
  marginalization. i have gone from not
  understanding the complex definition of the word
  to having the ability to define it in my own
  words. Edwin Smith

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Student Responses (continued)

• I am pleased that the writing in this class
  dealt with controversial and important issues
  because that is exactly what I deem to be most
  important to literature. I appreciate the lessons
  learned in how to effectively write for such
  issues. What this class has taught me is that
  seemingly no one is aware of how inherently deep
  marginalization is built into our society.
  Prevention is done by promoting an atmosphere of
  tolerance in newer and current generations and by
  actually educating the public. Fabio Toledo
• When I heard this class was going to focus on
  marginalization I was definitely not thrilled. I
  am just your all American, typical, white male
  who is really not in any marginalized category so
  i thought it might be difficult to take an
  interest in the topic. However I found it to be
  very interesting and it was interesting to see
  how different people are marginalized for
  different reasons. Marginalization is not just a
  black/white, or sexually oriented, or male/female
  issue this class opened my eyes to how
  marginalization affects everyone. Another thing I
  took from this class was that sometimes you just
  need to open yourself up to some things because
  you never know what you might like if you really
  invest some time in it. Phillip Duame

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Student Responses (continued)

• Sometimes when I'm home and I see on the news
  some of the crazy things that happen out there, I
  always think what is wrong with these people?
  This class helped showed me how not to ask what
  is wrong but instead to ask why is this wrong. I
  had to really think for this course and I've
  never had to do that in past classes. That I will
  not forget. Myra Hunt
• Focusing on the theme of marginalization this
  semester has really opened my eyes to the issues
  that it affects around the world. I never really
  realized how strong it effects me! But being
  Hispanic, I am marginalized as being a minority
  (poor, dumb, etc.), being a woman (weak, dumb
  etc.), and being in an interracial relationship
  (degrading cultures, wrong etc.). I plan to take
  what I've learned and pass the knowledge to
  someone who's eyes have not been open to the
  issue. Unlike before, I plan to watch the news
  more often to see if there is any progress with
  these issues over time. Noelia Moreira
• I realized that marginalization takes form in
  many ways and with many people around the world.
  It was also really interesting how we saw
  marginalization expressed in different ways like
  in a movie, short stories and poems.
  Furthermore, the research topics of my classmates
  were all very different and I had a chance to
  look at marginalization through different points
  of view. Thus, I have begun to question many
  things. Komal Desai