Re: Not qualified to teach? Who cares?

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On 12/31/09, Dr. C wrote:
> I work in the Writing Center and I see the worst
>> assignments coming through - professors who have no idea how
>> to teach writing or foster writing - but does the Dean do
>> anything? Help them in any way?
>>
>> No. Maybe she doesn't know but the system grinds on...and
>> students pay money and when they get a decent professor, they
>> are SO happy.
>>
>
> Does the writing center get students from all majors or just
> English classes?
>
> I teach upper division classes and would expect my students to be
> able to write by now. Sadly, many of them (especially foreign
> born) still do not write at the college level. I know our writing
> center will gladly help them and I refer them to the writing
> center when I see major deficiencies.
>
> Sadly, I don't have time to correct poor writing. I do grade for
> it by simply stating my policy that a poorly written paper will
> automatically be disqualified from getting an A--regardless of
> content.
>
> I had a very enlightening experience last year. I taught an honors
> class at my university and the quality of the papers was awesome.
> I had forgotten what it was like to get a majority of
> well-organized, thought papers that were well written. I think I
> will raise my standards for all classes after that experience.
>
> An idea I am flirting with is to have students collaborate to
> review other student papers on-line prior to submission.
> Collaborative On-line Learning is catching on and, if done
> properly, can work well.
>
> Deans outside of the Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences are not
> going to get involved with improving writing even though you would
> think they should. It has to come from the faculty...many of whom
> can't write in English themselves.
 

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