Friday, June 26, 2015

2015 #8: Teaching With Writing (Toby Fulwiler)

Teaching with WritingTeaching with Writing by Toby Fulwiler
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While somewhat dated (the book was published in 1987), Fulwiler's book is full of good lessons and exercises for teachers who wish to engage more with writing in their classes. It is essentially a teacher workshop in book form, and each chapter has pre- and post- journal writing exercises.

The handouts that are included at the end of each chapter are particularly helpful. I will be using many of them in my classes next semester. The handout on "Following Directions" at the end of Chapter 8 is fantastic as it serves as a reminder that prompts are as important as the assignments we receive. The handout breaks down the nuanced differences between words like "analyze", "compare", "contrast", "justify", etc. for our students and in turn makes us more conscious about what we ask them to do.

Admittedly, Fulwiler's scenarios are a bit rosy at times, and he doesn't address working with ELL students in any kind of meaningful way. Many of these activities fail when there is not a uniform level of English ability in the classroom. Chapter 7 on "Research Writing" spends a lot of time on conducting interviews as a major source of research. That's likely to be more helpful in some subjects more than others, and the chapter really doesn't offer ideas for motivating students to do other kinds of research, although it recognizes that as a major problem. Fulwiler also encourages collaborative editing and proofreading among students outside of class, saying "Such cooperative work does not amount to cheating; virtually all serious writers rely on outside editorial help." There's the problem, however--it isn't really "outside" when you're talking about students in the same class. It can open the door for plagiarism, even if it is not intentional.

Overall, however, Fulwiler's book is still a very relevant resource for any teacher in any subject who wants to integrate writing as a tool for learning, not just evaluating.


Monday, June 15, 2015

2015 #7: They Say, I Say by G. Graff and Cathy Birkenstein

They Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic WritingThey Say/I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I share the concerns of those who dislike the idea of templates, but I can see their usefulness, at least in part. There are a lot of valuable ideas in this little book, however, and I think it can be a great resource for teachers who can then tailor the exercises to achieve similar goals. For example, my department feels strongly that students should NOT use first person for scholarly research writing (in disagreement with the authors of the book). That doesn't mean that the book is useless. I've gone through and highlighted the examples that are in third person. I found certain sections a bit questionable (e.g. "Mix Academic and Colloquial Styles") but the authors write very much in the spirit of suggestion, rather than dogma. The book provides some very admirable and engaging ideas as to how one might tackle the mega-question: Why does writing matter? Getting students to enter a dialogue with unseen respondents is difficult, but this book presents several exercises (many of which are not dependent upon templates) that can help students engage with writing as part of a much larger conversation, rather than a single assignment for a teacher or professor.


Wednesday, June 10, 2015

2015 #6: Lying Awake by Mark Salzman

TITLE: Lying Awake
AUTHOR: Mark Salzman
Year: Vintage ppbk ed, 2001
Pages: 181
RATING: 4/5 stars

This is a beautifully written book that is ultimately sensitive and perceptive about the cloistered life. Yet, as much as it *is* about a nun, it is not. Salzman lets the universal truths of our humanity blossom throughout the book, without being preachy or cliché. Sister John of the Cross's waking dreams are the key not just for the protagonist, but for the reader as well. The end did seem to be abrupt, in terms of narrative flow, but it is one instance where the lack of conclusion seemed apt. A good read for anyone who is devoted to a passion and has crafted a life around that passion.


Monday, June 1, 2015

2015 #5: Orfeo by Richard Powers

OrfeoOrfeo by Richard Powers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had a hard time getting into this novel because it made me feel conspicuous as a musicologist. The first quarter of the book seemed to be trying too hard to establish its musical street cred, but I understand now…that may have been the point. The protagonist spends his life trying to establish his own credibility, most importantly with himself. There are many references to some of the biggest composers and pieces of the twentieth century, and Powers is very gifted in the artistic and nuanced way he writes about music. By the midpoint of the novel, Peter Els--the main character--seems to adopt a more Cagean-sense of music and Powers, too, seems more comfortable in his prose. He's a tough character, Els--you never really know how to connect to him (and he never really knows how to connect to anyone). He's an Orpheus running from the Underworld, but not to rescue Euridice. The undertow of music pulls at him constantly, and his life cycles through submitting to that force and fighting against it. Powers is masterful in his ability to recount narrative through multiple flashbacks which, at the end, help us understand that we are all fugitives of one sort or another.