English comp. 101 students with weak skills

by pixie

Mar 1, 2012

I am an adjunct at a community college teaching English comp. 101. I have been doing this for a few years, but this semester the students are weaker than usual in their ability to write a paragraph or a correct sentence or even a comprehensible sentence for that matter. Some are English language learners who have taken the prerequisites but still are not even close to being prepared for this course. There are requirements for what I have to teach them and assign them, so I cannot just lower the content to meet their level. I am feeling anxiety about the situation because I want them to succeed and find the course rewarding. I encourage them to go the tutoring center and to use the textbook's online practice exercises. I point out their errors, make sugggestions on their papers and in one-on-one conferences, as well as pointing out what they are doing successfully. I hope they will put in the hours to get up to speed, but they may not. they have families and jobs and there is slim chanc...See More

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Prof Phil Remedial English and math classes are always a hot topic. The students get credit toward full time status, but not toward college credit. Issues include: cost, who should be teaching the courses, placement exams, admitting students who need remediation, etc.

I am in engineering. Our Dean did an analysis once and found that students admitt...See MoreRemedial English and math classes are always a hot topic. The students get credit toward full time status, but not toward college credit. Issues include: cost, who should be teaching the courses, placement exams, admitting students who need remediation, etc.

I am in engineering. Our Dean did an analysis once and found that students admitted to engineering but who had to start at the lower remedial algebra classes had a minuscule change of ever graduating as an engineer. Yes we continue to admit them and let them flounder. (note: Most of these students have taken 4 years of high school math, but our placement test shows they don't have math skills).

We have a graduate writing test also. If a foreign student flunks it so many times, they can request a waiver!!!!!! Go figure!

On 3/08/12, pixie wrote: > Phil, you are correct about time spent outside of class, another issue > is the number of students with limited English proficiency. I have read > about there being a controversy about students being required to take > remedial courses, since the students don't get credit for them. Yet I > have students whom I strongly believe should be in remedial classes. In > fact, the majority of my students are nowhere near to writing at a > college level, although I do my best to get them up to speed. All this > relates to the crisis in American K-12 eduation as well as higher ed. > > > > On 3/02/12, Prof Phil wrote: >> On 3/02/12, pixie wrote: >>> Phil, >>> Thanks for replying. Yes, I do have them do some writing in >>> class, and I guess i am going to have to have them do even more. >>> I also show them models of the type of essay they are to write; I >>> give them an outline template and a list of what should be in >>> each paragraph. I think I am going to have to back up and reteach >>> by asking them to get out the article I gave them to analyze and >>> checking to see if they even annotated it like I taught them to. >>> I showed them using a differenet article as a model but I am >>> thinking they found the article that I wanted them to analyze too >>> difficult. (It is from a mainstream magazine, not even a >>> scholarly journal.) So tomorrow I am asking them for feedback >>> about the assignment and using the document camera and projector >>> to demonstrate how to annotate the article I want them to >>> analyze, and how to put their arms around the author's ideas and >>> make the necessary connections rather just reciting the details >>> of the article with little to no analysis in their essays. >>> >>> >>> . >>> On 3/01/12, Prof Phil wrote: >>>> On 3/01/12, pixie wrote: >>>>> I am an adjunct at a community college teaching English >>>>> comp. 101. I have been doing this for a few years, but this >>>>> semester the students are weaker than usual in their >>>>> ability to write a paragraph or a correct sentence or even >>>>> a comprehensible sentence for that matter. Some are English >>>>> language learners who have taken the prerequisites but >>>>> still are not even close to being prepared for this course. >>>>> There are requirements for what I have to teach them and >>>>> assign them, so I cannot just lower the content to meet >>>>> their level. I am feeling anxiety about the situation >>>>> because I want them to succeed and find the course >>>>> rewarding. I encourage them to go the tutoring center and >>>>> to use the textbook's online practice exercises. I point >>>>> out their errors, make sugggestions on their papers and in >>>>> one-on-one conferences, as well as pointing out what they >>>>> are doing successfully. I hope they will put in the hours >>>>> to get up to speed, but they may not. they have families >>>>> and jobs and there is slim chance they will spend the time >>>>> they really need to spend on the course. I am mainly just >>>>> venting, but if anyone has any suggestions, please >>>>> share. >>>> >>>> The problem is getting them to put in time on task to learn. I >>>> have the same problem teaching statistics. Writing and math >>>> require practice. Many students don't want to practice. Next >>>> quarter I am going to force students to solve problems in >>>> class.If you are not already doing it, try doing writing in >>>> class >> >> Give your idea a try and keep working on it. Time on task outside of >> class is the thing we don't have much control over. Studies have >> shown that over the past 40 years the number of hours college >> students spend studying outside of class has dropped significantly.

Mar 12, 2012

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pixie I am home working today and Charlie Rose is on PBS reminiscing with friends of the late Christopher Hitchens, who regulariy wrote for Vanity Fair and was described in his obituaries as one of the greatest persuasive writers of the era. I just reread and linked his provokative, thoughtful essay on why Mother Teresa was a publicity-seeking fraud. I a...See MoreI am home working today and Charlie Rose is on PBS reminiscing with friends of the late Christopher Hitchens, who regulariy wrote for Vanity Fair and was described in his obituaries as one of the greatest persuasive writers of the era. I just reread and linked his provokative, thoughtful essay on why Mother Teresa was a publicity-seeking fraud. I am wondering how many of my students would be capable of reading and understanding this essay, or any essay, from a magazine such as Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, or The New Yorker? If they did not agree with the writer's views, would they at least understand them and be able to form counter arguments? Few, if any of my students could handle it, although these are not highly technical journals, they are just magazines for literate, thoughtful people. In theory, a college student should be able to read thess magazine. Yet, even my own son, who is a high school senior, is way below reading or writing at a college level. If I assign my students an essay written at this elve, I must provide extensive in-class support, and I am willing to do this. Hopefully they will leave my class as better readers, writers, and thinkers than when they began. My concern is that if one cannot read at this level, can one think and reason at a high enough level to see through the manipulative political rhetoric that is bombarding voters through TV ads and soundbites? Can one see that certain politicians are making baseless assertions that appeal to emotions with absolutely no evidence or support, or with blatant logical fallicies? A democratic society depends on thoughtful, well- educated citizens who can choose its leaders wisely. I am trying to bring my students forward, inch by inch.

On 3/01/12, Prof Phil wrote: > On 3/01/12, pixie wrote: >> I am an adjunct at a community college teaching English >> comp. 101. I have been doing this for a few years, but this >> semester the students are weaker than usual in their >> ability to write a paragraph or a correct sentence or even >> a comprehensible sentence for that matter. Some are English >> language learners who have taken the prerequisites but >> still are not even close to being prepared for this course. >> There are requirements for what I have to teach them and >> assign them, so I cannot just lower the content to meet >> their level. I am feeling anxiety about the situation >> because I want them to succeed and find the course >> rewarding. I encourage them to go the tutoring center and >> to use the textbook's online practice exercises. I point >> out their errors, make sugggestions on their papers and in >> one-on-one conferences, as well as pointing out what they >> are doing successfully. I hope they will put in the hours >> to get up to speed, but they may not. they have families >> and jobs and there is slim chance they will spend the time >> they really need to spend on the course. I am mainly just >> venting, but if anyone has any suggestions, please >> share. > > The problem is getting them to put in time on task to learn. I > have the same problem teaching statistics. Writing and math > require practice. Many students don't want to practice. Next > quarter I am going to force students to solve problems in > class.If you are not already doing it, try doing writing in > class

Apr 16, 2012

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Other Interestingly, our daughters are in their early 30s and both write extremely well - one covering countries and writing papers for Congress and the other writing and reviewing technical reports on physical therapy with young children. Both girls were educated well ahead of the cell phone, texting, Face Book, iPad era....so we do not have any real id...See MoreInterestingly, our daughters are in their early 30s and both write extremely well - one covering countries and writing papers for Congress and the other writing and reviewing technical reports on physical therapy with young children. Both girls were educated well ahead of the cell phone, texting, Face Book, iPad era....so we do not have any real idea personally of the impact of these devices on the lives of todays teens and young adults. Although my husband says on the campus where he teaches over the last several years students have become increasingly less communicative in terms of just general social skills and seem to be in their own "tech" worlds whether on their cell phones, ipad or focused on a computer for some reason in a campus coffee shot.

Then the other night we were at a dinner where two educated parents were lamenting the fact that they ever gave their teen daughters cell phones. Why they do believe it was the cause for downward trend in grades and the wasted time spent on the seemingly endless need to "be connected"!!! It got to as many as 10,000 texts in a month for one daughter. We find this unbelievable and just rather sad because not only are young adults not learning to focus on the world around them, but they are also losing very valuable social and communication skills which are needed in the work world. So related to your post, yes if the high school students and college are so into communicating with one another, their focus just may not be there in the class even if you do offer the extra support and guidance. And if they are losing the art of reading a book, I guess a magazine of any intellectual depth is next. Wo would have thought that technological advances could lead to the dumbing down of American youth.

On 4/16/12, pixie wrote: > I am home working today and Charlie Rose is on PBS reminiscing > with friends of the late Christopher Hitchens, who regulariy > wrote for Vanity Fair and was described in his obituaries as one > of the greatest persuasive writers of the era. I just reread and > linked his provokative, thoughtful essay on why Mother Teresa was > a publicity-seeking fraud. I am wondering how many of my students > would be capable of reading and understanding this essay, or any > essay, from a magazine such as Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, or The > New Yorker? If they did not agree with the writer's views, would > they at least understand them and be able to form counter > arguments? Few, if any of my students could handle it, although > these are not highly technical journals, they are just magazines > for literate, thoughtful people. In theory, a college student > should be able to read thess magazine. Yet, even my own son, who > is a high school senior, is way below reading or writing at a > college level. If I assign my students an essay written at this > elve, I must provide extensive in-class support, and I am willing > to do this. Hopefully they will leave my class as better readers, > writers, and thinkers than when they began. > My concern is that if one cannot read at this level, can one > think and reason at a high enough level to see through the > manipulative political rhetoric that is bombarding voters through > TV ads and soundbites? Can one see that certain politicians are > making baseless assertions that appeal to emotions with > absolutely no evidence or support, or with blatant logical > fallicies? A democratic society depends on thoughtful, well- > educated citizens who can choose its leaders wisely. I am trying > to bring my students forward, inch by inch. > > > On 3/01/12, Prof Phil wrote: >> On 3/01/12, pixie wrote: >>> I am an adjunct at a community college teaching English >>> comp. 101. I have been doing this for a few years, but this >>> semester the students are weaker than usual in their >>> ability to write a paragraph or a correct sentence or even >>> a comprehensible sentence for that matter. Some are English >>> language learners who have taken the prerequisites but >>> still are not even close to being prepared for this course. >>> There are requirements for what I have to teach them and >>> assign them, so I cannot just lower the content to meet >>> their level. I am feeling anxiety about the situation >>> because I want them to succeed and find the course >>> rewarding. I encourage them to go the tutoring center and >>> to use the textbook's online practice exercises. I point >>> out their errors, make sugggestions on their papers and in >>> one-on-one conferences, as well as pointing out what they >>> are doing successfully. I hope they will put in the hours >>> to get up to speed, but they may not. they have families >>> and jobs and there is slim chance they will spend the time >>> they really need to spend on the course. I am mainly just >>> venting, but if anyone has any suggestions, please >>> share. >> >> The problem is getting them to put in time on task to learn. I >> have the same problem teaching statistics. Writing and math >> require practice. Many students don't want to practice. Next >> quarter I am going to force students to solve problems in >> class.If you are not already doing it, try doing writing in >> class

Apr 27, 2012

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pixie, to Other Thanks for responding! I thinkyou raise an importnt point about technology. In addition to the time spent texting, kids waste hours on Facebook and playing online video games. No that all kids in the pre- technological age were intellectual giants, but I think more people did read when there weren't as many other entertaining things to do.
...See MoreThanks for responding! I thinkyou raise an importnt point about technology. In addition to the time spent texting, kids waste hours on Facebook and playing online video games. No that all kids in the pre- technological age were intellectual giants, but I think more people did read when there weren't as many other entertaining things to do.

In my previous post I mentioned the necessity of an informed citizenry to a functioning democracy. This is really serious in light of the fact that so many powerful interest groups are running negative ads (more so on the Republican side, but the Democrats have to choice but to fight fire with fire). Last night Chris Matthews showed an ad that is being run by Karl Rove's organization portraying Obama as a a "cool celebrity" who has no substance. Matthews said that the creators of the ad are counting on people who are not familiar with the substance of what Obama has been doing for the last four years just accepting the ad at face value. Whether you agree with Obama's policies or not, at least be familiar with the issues before you made a decision as important as whom to support politically. A few months ago in one of the primaries, a reporter was asking voters why they voted for their choice. One voter said Santorum because he "seems like he is a family man, and family comes first." So by this logic, all a candidate has to do it have his kids around him during all of this speeches in order to get votes. Not to get too into politics, but this is an important election. Citizens United has changed the political landscape. Billions of dollars are being poured into negative ads, not only in the presidential election but in congressional elections, where people may be even less familiar with the candidates or their issues. I encourage my students to subscribe to a newspaper, or watch the unbiased news on PBS at least read opinion pieces from the New York times online. If many college students cannot even read at a newspaper reading level, this is discouraging.

On 4/27/12, Other wrote: > > Interestingly, our daughters are in their early 30s and both write > extremely well - one covering countries and writing papers for > Congress and the other writing and reviewing technical reports on > physical therapy with young children. Both girls were educated well > ahead of the cell phone, texting, Face Book, iPad era....so we do not > have any real idea personally of the impact of these devices on the > lives of todays teens and young adults. Although my husband says on > the campus where he teaches over the last several years students have > become increasingly less communicative in terms of just general > social skills and seem to be in their own "tech" worlds whether on > their cell phones, ipad or focused on a computer for some reason in a > campus coffee shot. > > Then the other night we were at a dinner where two educated parents > were lamenting the fact that they ever gave their teen daughters cell > phones. Why they do believe it was the cause for downward trend in > grades and the wasted time spent on the seemingly endless need to "be > connected"!!! It got to as many as 10,000 texts in a month for one > daughter. We find this unbelievable and just rather sad because not > only are young adults not learning to focus on the world around them, > but they are also losing very valuable social and communication > skills which are needed in the work world. So related to your post, > yes if the high school students and college are so into communicating > with one another, their focus just may not be there in the class even > if you do offer the extra support and guidance. And if they are > losing the art of reading a book, I guess a magazine of any > intellectual depth is next. Wo would have thought that technological > advances could lead to the dumbing down of American youth. > > > > > > > > > > > > On 4/16/12, pixie wrote: >> I am home working today and Charlie Rose is on PBS reminiscing >> with friends of the late Christopher Hitchens, who regulariy >> wrote for Vanity Fair and was described in his obituaries as one >> of the greatest persuasive writers of the era. I just reread and >> linked his provokative, thoughtful essay on why Mother Teresa was >> a publicity-seeking fraud. I am wondering how many of my students >> would be capable of reading and understanding this essay, or any >> essay, from a magazine such as Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, or The >> New Yorker? If they did not agree with the writer's views, would >> they at least understand them and be able to form counter >> arguments? Few, if any of my students could handle it, although >> these are not highly technical journals, they are just magazines >> for literate, thoughtful people. In theory, a college student >> should be able to read thess magazine. Yet, even my own son, who >> is a high school senior, is way below reading or writing at a >> college level. If I assign my students an essay written at this >> elve, I must provide extensive in-class support, and I am willing >> to do this. Hopefully they will leave my class as better readers, >> writers, and thinkers than when they began. >> My concern is that if one cannot read at this level, can one >> think and reason at a high enough level to see through the >> manipulative political rhetoric that is bombarding voters through >> TV ads and soundbites? Can one see that certain politicians are >> making baseless assertions that appeal to emotions with >> absolutely no evidence or support, or with blatant logical >> fallicies? A democratic society depends on thoughtful, well- >> educated citizens who can choose its leaders wisely. I am trying >> to bring my students forward, inch by inch. >> >> >> On 3/01/12, Prof Phil wrote: >>> On 3/01/12, pixie wrote: >>>> I am an adjunct at a community college teaching English >>>> comp. 101. I have been doing this for a few years, but this >>>> semester the students are weaker than usual in their >>>> ability to write a paragraph or a correct sentence or even >>>> a comprehensible sentence for that matter. Some are English >>>> language learners who have taken the prerequisites but >>>> still are not even close to being prepared for this course. >>>> There are requirements for what I have to teach them and >>>> assign them, so I cannot just lower the content to meet >>>> their level. I am feeling anxiety about the situation >>>> because I want them to succeed and find the course >>>> rewarding. I encourage them to go the tutoring center and >>>> to use the textbook's online practice exercises. I point >>>> out their errors, make sugggestions on their papers and in >>>> one-on-one conferences, as well as pointing out what they >>>> are doing successfully. I hope they will put in the hours >>>> to get up to speed, but they may not. they have families >>>> and jobs and there is slim chance they will spend the time >>>> they really need to spend on the course. I am mainly just >>>> venting, but if anyone has any suggestions, please >>>> share. >>> >>> The problem is getting them to put in time on task to learn. I >>> have the same problem teaching statistics. Writing and math >>> require practice. Many students don't want to practice. Next >>> quarter I am going to force students to solve problems in >>> class.If you are not already doing it, try doing writing in >>> class

Apr 28, 2012

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Denise Halvorson I am so glad (one minute) to hear that others are confronting the issue of college students who are unable to write or think at a college level. (Now) I thought I was alone! Within the last six years particularly, I have noticed that students entering my English Comp 101 class are increasingly unaware of not only basic syntax or usage, but are firs...See More

Jun 29, 2012

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