Adjusting Textbook Assignments for Student Success

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Adjusting Textbook Assignments for Student
Success
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Too simplistic/Overdone

• Write about a person who has had an impact on
  you.
• Write about an event that was memorable for you.
• Write about a day when everything went right (or
  wrong).
• Write a process analysis on something you are
  good at (dance, cook, play video games, etc.).

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Too broad

• Write about an important period in your life.
• Write a narration of your biography.
• Write a definition on one of the following terms
  or topics cheating, learning, a positive work
  environment, growth opportunities, success, a
  good relationship, heroism.

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Who cares? Or Why would you want to read these
essays?

• Evaluate a place you have been to.
• Write a process analysis on how to get a job.
• Evaluate a product you are familiar with.
• Write a process analysis on how to find a book in
  the library.
• Write a comparison/contrast on high school and
  college.

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See the adjustment in action

• Textbook prompt
• Argue about how a particular communication medium
  has changed our lives.
• Adjusted prompt
• What is a benefit of social networking sites?

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What is a benefit of social networking sites?

• Within this essay assignment, students will be
  asked to accomplish the following goals
• Read and synthesize several articles about how
  social networking sites are used for more than
  just making friends/finding love. Then correctly
  quote and site from one or two articles for
  support of their points that social networking
  sites have a benefit
• Develop a thesis/controlling idea that guides the
  essay
• Think more globally as they have to move from the
  personal use of these sites to the societal
  applications of these sites
• Use prioritizing skills to evaluate their points
  strong/weak
• Visit several types of these sites, and bolster
  their understanding of netiquette and net speech.

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• Textbook prompt
• Write a cause/effect essay on the effects of
  having a minimum wage job.
• Adjusted prompt
• Write an essay in which you take a position about
  the possibility of achieving the American Dream.
  

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Write an essay in which you take a position about
the possibility of achieving the American Dream.

• Within this essay assignment, students will be
  asked to accomplish the following goals
• Read, synthesize, and incorporate support from
  assigned articles
• Think critically about the economic, health, and
  ethnic situation of others and how those impact
  accessibility to the American Dream
• Develop that controlling idea/thesis
• Create logical paragraphs, which logically
  incorporate examples/quotes.

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You try

• With your group, choose two of these uninspired
  prompts, and make them more meaningful,
  interesting, and/or challenging.
• Write about a cultural symbol you are familiar
  with.
• Write a narration about a day you would rather
  forget.
• Write a process analysis on how to convince
  someone to help you (for example, lend you money
  or a car help you at work).
• Write a cause/effect paper on the effects of
  getting a college degree.
• Evaluate a performance you have seen.
• Write a comparison/contrast on two types of
  television shows.
• Write about a health issue.
• Examine an occupation that interests you.

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