Presence and Positioning within the University

Presence and Positioning Within the University

Pray-Harold Hall
Home of the English Department and First-Year Writing Program

Dr. Adler-Kassner has worked hard to reframe the role and place of the FYWP at EMU, and I believe it is worth discussing the key ways that this public presence of the program has been constructed. Three strategic activities--restructuring the curriculum, continuous assessment, and the Celebration of Student Writing--contribute in the most noticeable ways to the FYWP's presence and position within the University. The consequence of this effort to make their presence and work known and understood more broadly within the University is that it is easier to justify and advocate for the work and goals of the program.

Curriculum
By reframing the curriculum for ENGL 120 and ENGL 121 as being about inquiry and strategies rather than skills, the FYWP shifted the perception of First-Year Writing from a one-stop service course where students obtain writing skills to a course that introduces and launches students into the world of academic learning and writing. The effect of this shifted frame for what Freshman Writing can not be underestimated.

Assessment
Each phase of assessment has been significant in helping others in the university to see and understand what the FYWP does. The first phase of assessment in 2002 surveyed students' confidence levels and provided evidence of the effectiveness of the curriculum. This assessment also sought to link students' work in ENGL121 to their future studies in other subjects. The second, more involved assessment of ENGL121 in 2004-2006 engaged multiple stakeholders within the university community to join focus groups to define criteria for "good writing" that were context-specific to EMU. Through this assessment development project, the FYWP involved the university community in a participatory role. By listening to these stakeholders and dialoguing with them about what makes good writing and what students were doing in these Freshman writing classes, Adler-Kassner engaged them in shaping these courses, and she was able to educate them more about the FYWP. The third and current phase of development demonstrates the continuous improvement to the key class--ENGL 121. By enlisting librarians to assist in improving the research curriculum in the class, again, Adler-Kassner continues to reach out to other departments on the campus to improve the FYWP.

The Student Celebration of Writing
By all accounts, this celebration is a big deal on the campus of EMU--purposefully so. By creating a very public event displaying work from the ENGL 121 class, Adler-Kassner is showcasing her program to the entire student population of EMU. The event is held in the ballroom of the Student Union, and has the environment of a science fair with students at tables displaying their work and people attending milling around talking to the students about what they've done. The celebration has even become a community event where area high schools are invited to attend. This video posted on YouTube entitled "Celebration of Student Writing 2.0 2007" provides an excellent demonstration of what this event is like.