Preparing To Teach Writing: Research, Theory, and Practice - Softcover

Williams, James D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0805822666 ISBN 13: 9780805822663

Publisher: Routledge, 1998

Synopsis

This text is a comprehensive survey of theories, research, and methods associated with teaching composition successfully. It begins with a discussion of the historical factors that have shaped today's composition instruction, by tracing the development of rhetoric from ancient Greece through contemporary strands defined by modernism, romanticism, and postmodernism. This is followed by chapters on models for teacher writing; the classroom as a writing workshop; the role that reading plays in effective writing; style; English as a second language and nonstandard English; the psychology of writing; writing assignments and assessing writing as the most important factors in evaluation--including a step-by-step guide to implementing holistic and portfolio assessment. Relevant for composition teachers at all levels, this text is particularly useful for preservice and in-service English and language arts teachers at the middle and secondary levels.

Other features include:
* thorough discussions of English as a second language and nonstandard English--topics that are increasingly vital to effective teaching;
* insightful treatment of Black English Vernacular (Ebonics);
* consideration of the psychology of writing in light of the current emphasis on critical thinking skills in our schools;
* examination of the validity of the critical thinking focus of instruction used in many classrooms; and
* useful pedagogical aids--including chapter overviews; prompts for journal entries to give students opportunities to reflect on the material and how it relates to their own experiences; sample assignments; sample student papers; study questions and activities at the end of each chapter that provide opportunities to apply the key ideas.

New in the Second Edition
This popular text has been fully revised and updated throughout; the chapters on reading and writing, psychology and language, and ESL and nonmainstream students are almost completely new, reflecting major changes in these areas since the first edition was published. The revised edition is more open-ended, allowing readers to strike out more on their own after seeing what the various experts have to say. Unlike other texts in this area, this book includes lengthy discussions of English as a second language and nonstandard English--topics that are increasingly vital to effective teaching.

About this title

Synopsis

This volume examines the theories, research and methods associated with teaching composition. It offers a discussion of the historical factors that have shaped today's composition instruction by tracing the development of rhetoric from ancient Greece through the contemporary strands defined by modernism, romanticism and postmodernism. In addition, it examines the classroom as a writing workshop, the role that reading plays in effective writing, and the relationship between grammar and writing. This book includes discussions of English as a second language and nonstandard English - topics that are increasingly vital to effective teaching. Other special features include: an treatment of Black English Vernacular (Ebonics); a discussion of the psychology of writing especially because of the renewed emphasis on critical thinking skills in schools; an examination of the validity of the critical thinking focus of instruction used in many classrooms; and an in-depth treatment of both writing assignments and assessment via a discussion on the most important factors of evaluation, and a step-by-step guide to implementing holistic scoring and portfolio assessment.

Finally, the text is complemented by opportunities for students to reflect on the material and how it relates to their experiences through regular prompts for journal entries. Each chapter concludes with questions and activities that give readers the chance to apply the key ideas.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0805822666
• ISBN 13: 9780805822663
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 360