This presentation focuses on decoding desires of various audiences to support and pivot toward higher order concerns (HOCs) in ECU's University Writing Center (UWC).
2. Recap: Module 1
Acquiring Language
Understanding based on context,
knowledge of world, and additional
linguistics
Competence to next level i + l
(Krashen 17)
Learning Language
Teaching of grammar and syntax rules
3. Last Year…
A department expressed concern that students were not getting the support they needed. When
we asked about specific supports their students needed, they simply said, "grammar."
UWC: What concerns do you have with grammar?
Department: Our students' papers lack theses, transitions between paragraphs and sections, and
an ability to effectively integrate evidence.
4. Various Supports
ECU Department
Support for “grammar”*
Thesis
Transition of ideas
Integration of evidence
UWC
Consultation focus
Thesis
Transition of Ideas
Integration of evidence
Writing Center Practice
Best practices
Thesis
Transition of ideas
Integration of evidence
*For those of us who study writing and language, these concerns are considered higher order concerns (HOCs), not grammar.
6. Decoding the Client Report Form
Guides HOC questions for “setting the agenda”
Audience
Purpose
Message
Outlines reports for writers, instructors, and the UWC staff post-session
Provides communication between various audiences to decode and articulate
meaning and session outcomes
7. Sources
“Elements of Style Image.”
https://beckysblogs.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/the-elements-of-style-by-william-strunk-jr-and-e-b-
white.jpg
Krashen, Stephen. Principles and Practice in Second Language Acquisition.
University of Southern California, 1982.
“The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation Image.”
http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/9781118785560_p0_v3_s1200x630.jpg
“The Writer’s Handbook Image.”
http://www.directtextbook.com/large/1337279633.jpg
Editor's Notes
A major part of supporting writers is decoding what they desire from us when they visit the UWC. Decoding what they want sometimes requires us to decode what their instructors desire for them in their assignments. Let’s talk a little bit about “Decoding Desires: Articulation Versus Meaning.”
Let’s recap. In Module 1, you learned the difference between acquiring language and learning language. According to Krashen, acquiring language is based on an understanding of context, knowledge of world, and additional linguistics. Before learners move to the next level, they need to show competence, represented by “I +l.”
Learning language, on the other hand, means becoming familiar with the rules regarding language, like grammar and syntax.
In decoding, we must 1) distinguish the difference between language acquisition and learning language; 2) engage in a conversation of open-ended questions with writers, and 3) use the client report for determining writer’s needs.
More specifically, the client report form is a guide for helping consultants set the agenda through HOC questions on areas like audience, purpose, and message. Additionally, it helps consultants outline reports for writers, instructors, and UWC staff post-session.