This article explores the connections between creating an equitable classroom and antiracist assessment. The article attempts to explain the impact of the equitable classroom on student apathy. Additionally, rigid concepts of "failing" under this equitable classroom model are interrogated. Finally, the article provides some insights into…

How can writing instructors prepare students for informed and engaged civic discourse when opportunities for such discourse are seemingly limited and ineffective? This essay examines this question by reporting on a case study that explored civic discourse and civic participation at the local level of government. The aims of the case study were to…

Composition teachers have generally embraced collaborative learning in the years since Kenneth Bruffee published his first article promoting its advantages in "College English" in 1972. But assigning collaboratively written papers in an introductory college writing course is still rare. This study assesses the benefits and drawbacks of assigning a…

The attempt of writing center consultants to discourage faculty from requiring classes to visit the writing center led to research that calls this longstanding practice into question. In the early days of the proliferation of writing centers, faculty were advised not to require either individual students or entire classes to go to the writing…

In this article, the author examines students response to a class assignment on diversity issues. Her analysis revealed that students were at different levels in terms of understanding of diversity issues--and that students often may experience what she calls a "metastable state" in learning about diversity. Thus, in examining diversity…

Although writing instructors have a clear picture of how well our students can write by the end of a composition course, very rarely do we learn how well the students carry over the skills and strategies we teach them to the essays they write for other courses. I collected essays from other courses to determine how effectively students transfer…

Describes a freshman honors writing course in which students submit research papers and then write letters to the teacher about the experience. Identifies four concerns raised by students: (1) managing time; (2) managing the topic; (3) integrating sources; and (4) following a structure. Concludes that peer interaction is a valuable resource for…