Lesson Materials: For the student-facing pedagogical materials needed to teach today’s class, please open the following page: Writing Foundations Lesson Materials.
Lesson Objectives: 1) Students will understand that writing is a non-linear process involving intensive revision; 2) Student will understand the meaning of a rhetorical situation and its impact on writing; 3) Students will develop an awareness of genre and its impact on one’s linguistic and rhetorical choices.
Connection to First Major Paper/Project: This lesson sets the tone for the entire semester, including the first unit. It helps students organize their writing process for the narrative assignment, think about audience and purpose, and consider the unique considerations of this genre.
Connection to Course Goals: This lesson addresses the course goal related to process and the one related to genre awareness. It introduces these concepts to students in preparation for their practice throughout the semester.
Sequence of Activities: 1. PowerPoint presentation; 2. Reading discussions
- Reading Discussions: Bring students to the front of the class so that they do not get distracted by computers. Sit around in a circle and have each team lead discussion. Intervene as necessary to keep discussion lively and ensure that students understand the fundamentals of academic writing, helping them understand the notion of joining a conversation.
- PowerPoint Presentation: Follow PowerPoint instructions in the lesson materials’ link above. Ensure that students understand that writing is a process, it is rhetorical, and it is genre-based.