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Tag Archives: review

Review of Calibrated Peer Review Pilot by Judith Annicchiarico

RWS-SB 2012 Comments Off on Review of Calibrated Peer Review Pilot by Judith Annicchiarico

I’m desperate for tools and strategies to help me get my job done and still live a life. Like many other writing instructors over the past twenty years have done, I’ve tried out scores of promising technology solutions that looked like they might help me do my job more effectively or efficiently, whether that means helping students to apply concepts they’re learning, or freeing up time for me to apply to course planning, attending meetings, and grading stacks of papers.

Review of Reading Culture: Context for Critical Reading and Writing, 4th ed., by Kimberly Norlund

RWS-SB 2011 Comments Off on Review of Reading Culture: Context for Critical Reading and Writing, 4th ed., by Kimberly Norlund

Reading Culture by Diana George and John Trimbur is not a how-to text on writing but rather a how-to text on thinking critically of American culture.  As a visually stimulating reader reflecting everyday encounters through articles and illustrations, Reading Culture succeeds in capturing its audience’s attention.  George and Trimbur’s idea is “to treat contemporary American culture as a vast research […]

Textbook Review – The Aims of Argument: A Text and Reader by Maud Gale

RWS-SB 2004 Comments Off on Textbook Review – The Aims of Argument: A Text and Reader by Maud Gale

In her essay “Taking TV’s “‘War of Words’” Too Literally,”1 Georgetown University linguist Deborah Tannen examines the rise of what she calls the “argument culture.” That argument is a significant part of American culture today is clear whenever we turn on the television set. Talking heads that populate the airwaves with ardent speakers can be found on various talk shows, especially cable’s quasi-news programs such as MSNBC’s Hardball or CNN’s Crossfire.

Textbook Review – Writing From Sources: 4th Edition: Brenda Spatt by Richard Hal Hannon

RWS-SB 2004 Comments Off on Textbook Review – Writing From Sources: 4th Edition: Brenda Spatt by Richard Hal Hannon

Many instructors of writing would perhaps argue about what freshmen college students lack the most these days in terms of developing a writing foundation that will enable them to manage the multitude of papers they will undoubtedly write throughout their college careers. Some might say “style and syntax,” while others would certainly say “the ability to hold a well-founded opinion.”

CyberReader, 2nd ed. By Victor Vitanza Reviewed by Anna Marin

RWS-SB 2004 Comments Off on CyberReader, 2nd ed. By Victor Vitanza Reviewed by Anna Marin

It seems Victor Vitanza asked a Magic 8-Ball to see if the world of college composition courses would merge enough with the virtual world to warrant a textbook to be written. Apparently, all signs pointed to yes, and so was born CyberReader.

Textbook Review of Literacies by Christine Gajoli

RWS-SB 2004 Comments Off on Textbook Review of Literacies by Christine Gajoli

Students are most likely to speak when they believe they will be heard, and they speak better when they have something worthwhile to say. The premise behind Literacies is that the same holds true for writing. Subtitled “Reading, Writing, Interpretation,” Literacies is essentially a reader with an edge—an agenda of exalting the status of student writers’ voices by encouraging them to read, think, and write critically and contextually. It is a textbook rich in resources yet simultaneously designed for flexibility, making it appropriate for a significant range of college classrooms.

Review – Literacies: A Textbook of Empowerment by Cassandra Gonzalez

RWS-SB 2002 Comments Off on Review – Literacies: A Textbook of Empowerment by Cassandra Gonzalez

In her article, “Multicultural Classrooms, Monocultural Teachers,” Terry Dean discusses the plight of both teacher and student in regards to multiculturalism and the often problematic classroom situations it entails.  Dean’s primary claim is that “with increasing cultural diversity in classrooms, teachers need to structure learning experiences that both help students write their way into the […]