PBL Assignment #2:
Describing and Assessing a Writing Program

To complete this assignment you will need to research either an existing writing program or an approach to teaching writing. You will describe that program in some detail and then assess it in terms of your interest group at NDSU–what qualities might make that program work here; what qualities are incompatible with our teachers, students, region, etc.

Planning and Drafting:

1. The first step in completing this assignment is to begin to think through what the learning issues are–what info you will need to describe and assess a writing program and where you will find that information. (See some preliminary learning issues at the bottom of the page; work with these to develop and refine your own questions.)
2. Each person in your group should find a different program/approach to assess.
3. Make good use of the names, sources, ideas, presented in class on Monday and Wednesday Sept. 17 and 19. These will offer you wider ideas for your exploration/research.
4. Research your individual program and develop a second set of learning issues based on the specific of your interest group's wants and needs (as far as you know them).
5. Write the description of your program/approach. Share the rationale for the program with your group. Discuss all the programs individuals have researched in terms of the issues for your interest group.
6. Write the individual assessment of the program.
7. Write the group discussion of all the programs, assessment of ideas that might be workable here and ideas that will not be workable. Be sure to give support for your assertions.
8. Turn in your groups work together with the individual papers.

Learning issues:

Remember, with these learning questions, be sure to begin with what you think you know. Then discuss what you need to know and how to find that out.

1. What sorts of writing programs are feasible for our student body. Who are our students? Demographics? Education? Parent's education? ACT average? Family income? How do these issues–who our students are–effect what and how our students learn?
2. What are the possibilities of writing programs out there? What does NDSU do now? What perspectives/beliefs have influenced that? Are those perspectives/beliefs about writing, teaching writing, our students, or a combination?
3. Where can we find examples of Writing Programs?
4. What questions can we have for Betsy on Monday about approaches to teaching writing? What is the history of this process? What are important names we should look at?
5. How do textbooks fit into this? What do they say about a program, etc.?
6. How can we contact members of the interest group we represent at other institutions?

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