How+does+writing+support+social+action+?+(Newkirk,+Kent,+Chapter+16)


 * Discussion Question**

According to Thomas Deans and Megan Marie (Chapter 16 of //Teaching the Neglected R//), using writing to engage in social action allows students to engage their rhetorical, civic, activist, and pragmatic impulses. Define those impulses and discuss why it is (or is not) important to engage and encourage them in the English (or any) classroom.

**Annotated Bibliography**

Chapman, David. “Words that Make a Difference: Problem-Based Learning in Communication Arts Courses.” // The Journal of General Education // 51.4 (2002): 257-271. Online.
 * ====== This article discussed a communication arts classroom that sought to increase motivation and performance by creating a series of real world tasks for writing and performing. In engaging in these experiences, students are able to experience real successes and real challenges. ======

Heap, James. “Writing as Social Action.” //Theory into Practice.// 28.2 (1989): 148-153. Online.
 * ====== This article gives information about how students write in a classroom setting and how that writing affects their social relations. It also supports the idea that writing is a community activity and teachers must be able to recognize this to truly understand and evaluate student writing. ======

Keen, Cheryl and Kelly Hall. “Engaging with Difference Matters: Longitudinal Student Outcomes of Co-Curricular Service-Learning Programs.” // The Journal of Higher Education // 80.1 (2009): 59-79. Online.
 * ====== This article investigates the value and results of engaging in service-learning that is co-curricular. The research and interviews are conducted on college-level students, but much of the information and many of the ideas can be applied to secondary education. ======

Mancina, Hannah. “Empowering Students Through a Social-Action Writing Project.” //English Journal.// 94.6 (2005): 30-35. Online.
 * ====== This article demonstrates how a teacher overcame her struggle to motivate her students by giving them a voice in a social situation that was personal to them. Students wrote to a local newspaper in response to many negative articles about their school. ======

Williams, Carole. "Social Action Begins at School: The Research Paper Revisited." //English Journal// 82.7 (1993): 44-49. Online.
 * ====== A teacher examines how to engage students in writing a research paper by making it meaningful and mandated by the students. The teacher focuses student’s interests on social issues that they encounter daily. ======

=Activity= Create a poster advertising an upcoming community event. You can do whatever you want or think is necessary to promote this event. The possibilities are endless.

Who: Citizens Against the Fighting of Goldfish What: Rally to Stop Goldfish Fighting (Win a fish games, raffles, food, guest speakers) When: Sat. December 11th from 12pm-4pm Where: Rynearson Stadium at Eastern Michigan University, Hewitt and Huron Rd. Ypsilanti, MI Why: Animal abuse, illegal gambling, boost of crime in the neighborhood, overpopulation of goldfish.

Questions to consider: How will you word this? Where will you place specific details? Will you use graphics? Will you create a slogan?

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