As we discussed in class, since you are unable to purchase the books from the bookstore I am posting the readings here. You are in luck because I am going to reschedule the reading from The St. Martin’s Guide (SMG) Chapter 1: Preparing for the Course for 9/17. That means for Monday 8/20 you only need to read “CCCC Statement” and “Second-Language Writing in the Twentieth Century” by Matsuda. The Matsuda article is a great overview of second language composition as a field, and how it relates to other fields such as TESOL, Cultural Studies, etc. The CCCC (Conference on College Composition and Communication, a professional organization of writing teachers) statement outlines the position of the organization on how ESL learners in the North American context should be treated in English writing classes.
Please respond to the prompt below by clicking on “comments” (the link next to the title of this post). Then read at least one other student’s response and comment on it. Please do this by Friday so that I can read them all by Monday’s class.
PROMPT for Reading Response #1:
Both of the readings deal with teaching writing in English to ESL students in North American teaching contexts. In what ways is teaching writing different in the Puerto Rican context? If you were to write a statement on teaching writing in English in Puerto Rico, what would it need to include? (For example, what should the policy be for placement of students into university level writing courses in PR?)
OR
The Matsuda article talks about the history of the relationship between Second Language writing and different disciplinary fields, such as TESOL, rhetoric and composition, etc. In Puerto Rico, there has been a trend towards teaching using literature. In other words, the approach has been very similar to teaching native English speakers. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this, in your opinion? What “field” do you think second language writing in Puerto Rico belongs in (or do you think that it belongs in an “interdisciplinary” field–see Matsuda p. 23)? Try to refer to the Matsuda article in your response.
OR
If you are not yet very familiar with the Puerto Rican context, or if you would like to write about something else, please respond to the reading however you wish. The important thing is to respond to the reading–that means comment on/engage with SPECIFIC ideas in the texts. (I want to know your thoughts but I also want you to show me that you read and understood the material.)
