Last But Certainly Not Least: The FInal Thought

Its the last blog of the year and it is time to reminisce. Over the course of the semester, I have learned so many different valuable points. Topics ranging from how to teach an effective lesson to how to teach a student that does not speak any English. Several points that really stood out to me were the importance of feedback, teaching a foreign student and more than ever preventing plagiarism in the classroom. Preventions of plagiarism are important because it was my research topic in which I focused on all semester. Learning that feedback played an important in students’ writing did not occur to me until there was a video clip played in class about it. This course has helped me to better understand the concept of teaching and how important it is to make connections with the students in the classroom that will last for a lifetime. As a future educator, I will definitely use the tools given to me in this class to use in my classroom. Composition Studies has given me so much knowledge on being an effective teacher. This class, I thought was very important for me, especially since I am so close to actually being in the classroom. My students will greatly appreciate what I will have to give them.

Commenting....

In response to teacher commenting, I have come to realize that some comments are useful and others are not. My fear of commenting is that students will not take me seriously. On a high school level, you have to motivate a students to write the actual paper, so commenting on their papers may not bother them, however for the students who are concern with their writing, the feedback will give them a chance to look over their papers, correct the errors and turn the paper back in for a better grade.
In previous reading journals and blog prompts, I discussed the importance of revision becuase of the research that I dealt with for plagiarism. Giving the student feedback about his or own her work reduces the act of plagiarism and increases the student's chances for recieving better grades. With the expansion of the internet, more and more students are turning in works of others. It is important that the teacher catchs these types errors as they review all of the students work. One thing I will point out in my classroom is the importance of reviewing the feedback presented to the students on his or her papers. It is important for them to understand the comments so that they can have a well-detailed paper.

"The Red Pen"

As a third year student here at USCA, I have written numerous papers as a Secondary Education-English major. Focusing on the proper way of writing and organizing so many different ideas has been a growing phrase for me. For all my papers that I have turned in, I have never received a perfect paper, one without any marks. I have always receive papers asking me to review grammar, integrate quotes, be more detailed, or rely more on self rather than sources. With the many comments that I have receive, it helps me to become a better writer.
I appreciate "the red pen." I have not came across a paper where the comments were not useful, every paper with a comment is useful. It helps me as a writer become a much better writer, because it helps me know what I have to work on. I just recently receive two rough drafts back from two different teachers. Both were English classes that I feel very comfortably in. One of the papers was a good draft and the other however now so good. I worried about this because I did equal work on both, I researched both information directly, inserted the information correctly, and added proper citation. I just came to the solution that every teacher graded differently.
Most comments that I come to appreciate are those that I know I need help on such as grammar. My grammar can get a little mixed up if I am not focusing on what I am doing. I always try to tell my professors to look for this particular element. I think being a "country" girl, effects my language which effects my writing. Besides grammar, focusing on how I use my sources is another comment I appreciate if a professor tells me about. Any comments I most in all appreciate, there are highly any that I come across that are unappreciative. A professor is not there to put you down, but to bring you up and teach you the correct way of writing.

You Don't Speak English???

WIth the increase of Native students, there will be many different languages spoken in the classroom. Honestly, I know that I would not be able to handle a student who is not familiar with the English language because that is initatily my first language and the one that I am learning to teach. I understand that there will be some cases where a student is transferred into the classroom and I will have no choice but to work with he or she, however under those circumstances, as a good teacher, I will attempt to learn that child's language so that he or she and I can work on require assignments for class.
In class, Professor Fornes asked would I grade a student who is not familiar with the English language differnt from one that is, I answered yes, because obivously he or she would not be as ahead as a student who learned English from birth. English is such a hard language to comprehend, grasp and retain especially for a Native student who is use to not worrying about grammar or style. Personally, it would be a difficult task for me to handle, especially if it was my first time dealing with such a case.

Muriel Harris "Composing Behaviors of One-and Multi Draft Writers-

Summary: Revision , Revision and more Revision is the topic of this article. The article points out how revision can improve students writing. The article states, " a belief shared by teachers of writing, one that we fervently to inculcate in our students, is that revision can improve writing" (174) With that thoughts Harris states, "a logical conclusion, then is to train students writers to re-see and the re-draft a piece of discourse" (174).

Response:Revision is very important in the classroom and will definitely be an essential tool in my classroom. If a student is given an assignment, creating a rough draft should be his or her own priority. This gives the teacher a chance to make sure that the student is on the right track and a chance for the student to receive feedback. The article points out a good statements in that "... it is equally important to help students move beyond their limited approaches and limiting tendency to settle for whatever rolls out on paper the first time around" (174). For a student to be able to recognize his or her owns mistake shows progress in their writing.

"Can you help me look over my Paper?"

It is time to revise and I need your help. I go about many ways in revising my paper. First and foremost, I write a rough draft or something that I can at least get some feedback about. I was so excited when I first came to USCA because there of the writing room where I can get more assistance. The writing room is like another teacher to me. This place helps me alot in revising my papers. After writing papers for a while now, sometimes I find myself getting out of context or slacking, so I need that extra feedback so that I can bounce back into the just of things. Revising is so important because it shows the professor how effective my writing is. I have a rough draft that is due tomorrow in my English 288 class that will count for 20% of my class just for being done. Of course I will be focus on making sure that I get it in, however, I am going to be more focus on what she puts on that paper so that the final can be perfect. Revision is very important and should be taken very seriously.

Teaching About Words

Chapter eleven discusses writing in stages towards writing. The first sentence states that "writing, the second stage of composing, requires considerable concentration" (175). Having to teach writing on the secondary level will be quite difficult, especially for those students who are not motivated to write. The chapter suggests several ways to approach a student about writing in the classroom. The chapter also points out parts of speech, active and passive voice, derivational and inflectional affixes, style and suggestions on teaching students about languages. This chapter can be very effective beause it also focuses on grammar.
The chapter points out a good quotation from Donald Murrary, which states "the writer toys with language, knowing that out of his most irresponsible word play may come his most responsible writing" (175). Creative writing has alot to do with this. I want my class to focus on this type of writing, being able to create their own ideas and then be able to realize that they do not need other people's thoughts to make theirs.