2008 Writing–Teaching Grant Recipients
Denise Cruz, Assistant Professor of English and American Studies
Cruz will be spending two weeks of full-time effort in developing innovative assignments that engage interdisciplinary approaches and methods for her AMST A350/A351 courses. These intensive writing courses introduce students to transnational issues in Asian and Asian/American studies while developing critical thinking, analytical, and writing skills. Part of a larger required writing portfolio, newly developed assignments might range from written debates between historical figures, literary characters, and academic critics; newspaper analyses of current Asian global market issues; critical reviews of Asian women in film; and IU Faculty interviews culminating in articles discussing interdisciplinary and transnational research interests and methods. Dr. Cruz will meet with other writing fellows and Campus Writing consultants, report on and evaluate the efficacy of the course design, and present her work to peers in a future CWP faculty workshop.
Colin Johnson, Assistant Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Gender Studies
Johnson will be spending two weeks of full-time effort in developing a suite of innovative writing assignments that compliment GNDR G101’s new organizational structure (implemented in Fall 2007). The restructured smaller seminar-style sections and unified syllabus allow for more emphasis on writing skills development and intellectual exchange across sections of G101. Goals of assignment design include prompting students to think actively and critically about both the benefits and limitations of disciplinary conventions in academic writing, as well as employing various online collaborative tools to create a virtual intellectual community of G101 sections. Dr. Johnson will meet with other writing fellows and Campus Writing consultants, report on and evaluate the efficacy of the course design, and present his work to peers in a future CWP faculty workshop.
Frederika Kaestle, Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology
Kaestle will be spending two weeks of full-time effort in redesigning cohesive exercises and essays for effective teaching and assessment tools for B200 Bioanthropology. While keeping account of this course’s wide range of students and varied subject matter, assignment design will apply progressively difficult reading and writing tasks that aim to help students move beyond basics of reading and writing about scientific literature. Such redesign will also help students keep focus on course questions. In addition, revised and linked assignments will increase clearly demonstrated comprehension of course material and concepts. Dr. Kaestle will meet with other writing fellows and Campus Writing consultants, report on and evaluate the efficacy of the course design, and present her work to peers in a future CWP faculty workshop.
Jill Robinson, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry
Robinson will spend two weeks in full-time course and assignment design to improve teaching and learning of scientific journal-style writing in A314 Methods of Environmental and Biological Chemical Analysis Laboratory. Robinson has targeted student weaknesses in writing correct scientific format, content, and style; creating appropriate tables and graphs for data; and performing thoughtful error analysis. New progressive assignments would require individual work outside of class in addition to in-class group discussion, writing, and presentation. Time for creative brainstorming for assignments as well as working with appropriate campus resources for development will be included. Dr. Robinson will meet with other writing fellows and Campus Writing consultants, report on and evaluate the efficacy of the course design, and present her work to peers in a future CWP faculty workshop.
