UMUC

Center for Teaching and Learning

Online Workshops-Spring 2008

Identifying, Diagnosing, and Referring Student Writing Problems

Dates

Monday, April 28 through Monday, May 5, 2008

Facilitators

Lisa Bernstein, English Faculty, School of Undergraduate Studies

Description

This workshop will focus on helping faculty from all disciplines determine and address the types of difficulties exhibited in student writing. To provide an understanding of the general writing issues faced by students, we will introduce the ways in which writing skill develops in terms of fluency, clarity, and correctness (the ability to produce writing, to present information and knowledge through writing, and to use the conventions of written language). Through conference discussions and examination of student writing, the workshop will help faculty clarify the various writing issues that students encounter in specific disciplines and within the overall academic context. It will also familiarize faculty with the available student support services, including Tutoring, Academic Advisors, and the Effective Writing Center ; and recommend ways for faculty to facilitate their students' effective use of these services. Using examples of actual student work, we will practice identifying writing issues of fluency, clarity, and correctness, as well as ESL issues. Faculty can bring in samples of writing problems from their students, ranging from the typical to the most difficult issues to handle, and we will model evaluation criteria and feedback strategies for faculty to use in their classrooms.

Using examples of actual student work, we will practice identifying writing issues of fluency, clarity, and correctness, as well as ESL issues. Faculty can bring in samples of writing problems from their students, ranging from the typical to the most difficult issues to handle, and we will model evaluation criteria and feedback strategies for faculty to use in their classrooms.

SPECIAL NOTE: This workshop is limited to the first 25 participants.

Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Explain how students develop the writing skills of fluency, clarity, and correctness within the classroom environment
  • Analyze the different types of writing issues students encounter within specific disciplines
  • Recognize common writing problems that students face within the overall academic writing context
  • Identify specific problems that individual students exhibit in their writing assignments
  • Effectively use strategies and resources to help students overcome problematic writing issues and improve their writing