tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9096775046824978357.post3493262267982507818..comments2024-03-16T08:56:35.554-07:00Comments on Economics for Teachers: Musings about Teaching Economics: What are the costs?Jennifer Imazekihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15217003898479507362noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9096775046824978357.post-18738386471325252562009-07-31T12:44:52.868-07:002009-07-31T12:44:52.868-07:00Thanks for your thoughts, Steve. This is a big par...Thanks for your thoughts, Steve. This is a big part of what I struggle with - from one perspective, I believe that the 'process' IS important, which is why this student's grade was so hurt by his failure at the process part. And part of why I think the process is important is that this class is somewhat 'vocational', in the sense that I want them to get an idea of the kind of writing they are most likely to DO if they go get jobs as entry-level economic analysts, and that includes meeting deadlines, etc. On the other hand, the writing requirement for the University only addresses the technical aspects of developing writing skills. Of course, you are right that perhaps I just need to think harder about what I'm really trying to accomplish this course...Jennifer Imazekihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15217003898479507362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9096775046824978357.post-89701917974521322412009-07-30T04:47:14.612-07:002009-07-30T04:47:14.612-07:00A couple thoughts:
1. Ken Bain's book in his ...A couple thoughts:<br /><br />1. Ken Bain's book in his chapter on assessmenthas some thoughts about penalizing for late assignments that might be relevant.<br /><br />2. While I understand doc's school's position, I think it's missing an important point. I may be wrong, but I think there's a basic disconnect by those who think of the writing in a course as being distinct from the 'content learning' (for lack of a better phrase). I think a fundamental concept of the writing intensive movement is that you can't separate the two, that good writing is inherent in deep learning of the content, or rather that good writing is both a tool for learning, and a means of demonstrating that learning. <br /><br />I think the solution is to think deeply about what one is trying to accomplish in one's course in a way that embeds the writing centrally in that goal.<br /><br />I also think that a school that allows a D to count for content but requires a C for the WI component is setting itself up for problems such as yours. <br /><br />One approach to a setup like your course is to be very clear from the first day that good writing is necessary but not sufficient for a 'passing' grade on the WI component. I teach one course like this (Research Methodology)where 'effort' or 'process' is necessary to pass, but excellence is necessary for an A. Each year, I have a few students who write excellent final papers but fail the process requirement and thus fail the course. This approach makes sense in the context of this specific course but it doesn't makes sense in my other courses. The difference comes from thinking deeply about what I was trying to accomplish in each. None of this is easy, though.Stevehttp://pedablogy.stevegreenlaw.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9096775046824978357.post-75349350136610612192009-07-18T10:07:15.377-07:002009-07-18T10:07:15.377-07:00@doc: that's exactly what I wish we had. Maybe...@doc: that's exactly what I wish we had. Maybe it's something I should ask someone about, especially since the University is trying to encourage people to develop more discipline-specific writing classes.Jennifer Imazekihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15217003898479507362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9096775046824978357.post-20965604770450880942009-07-17T08:19:56.632-07:002009-07-17T08:19:56.632-07:00I think we need to review also with regards to the...I think we need to review also with regards to the subject matter.<br /><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/satellite-tv-for-pc--" rel="nofollow">Satellite TV for PC</a><br>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9096775046824978357.post-67318144592803247562009-07-14T09:54:17.272-07:002009-07-14T09:54:17.272-07:00I will have to say that my university does the wri...I will have to say that my university does the writing-intensive-course thing somewhat differently. Students have to take one or two writing intensive courses, but they get "graded" separately on the writing part of the couses. Effectively, the course shows up twice on their registration, once as the course and once as the writing-intensive part. The insutrucotr gives two grades, one for the course and one for the writing-intensive part. Only the course grade is included i the student's GPA. A C or better in the writing intensive part is required to fulfill the writing requirement. It's a bit of trouble for the nstructor, but it prevents things like the situation you are facing from occurring.Don Coffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07198988872512792834noreply@blogger.com