Getting Students from Nothing to Something

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Getting Students from Nothing to Something

•  
• Bridget Vaughan, Professor, Massasoit Community
  College
•  
• Sean McPherson, Professor, Massasoit Community
  College Mass Bay Community College

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Journal JourneysFrom Nothing to Something

• Bridget Vaughan
• Massasoit Community College

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• Because journals have such personal
  significance, the benefits of writing are
  numerous.
• Patricia Woodward, Author of Journal Jumpstarts

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Text book questions?Text book answers.

• Text book questions at the end of an essay
  encourage students to give the same answers
• There is less time and space for personal
  reflection (numbering, answering more quantity
  vs. quality questions, students may just rush
  through it to get it done)

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Trying something new The Journey to Journals

• With more of a focus on the quality of questions
  (open-ended), more thought and originality is
  required
• More ownership of ideas
• Taking away the text book questions no more
  text book answers

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Sample Journal Process

• Students are given a series of questions that
  they must respond to in a journal entry after
  having read a professionally written essay

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Journal Process

• The format for the journal is their choice
  (paragraphs, free writing, graphic organizer). I
  only ask that they be typed and that all
  questions are addressed somewhere in the journal

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Journal Process
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Student example 1After reading the The
Ways of Meeting Oppression by Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr., students wrote journal entries. Then
they had to research another oppressed group of
their choosing, and write a division and
classification essay on the ways that their group
responded to oppression.
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Student example 1

• Journal entry excerpt
• I agree wholeheartedly with Dr. King. Violence
  is never the answer. Through nonviolent
  resistance, one can get their point across while
  still maintaining their dignity and others
  respect. While reading this essay, I think about
  all those who are still dealing with oppression
  today. It is a shame that we have made this much
  progress and come this far, only for society to
  continue to oppress certain races, sexual
  orientations, and religions. Yet, it is a giant
  leap from where we once were, and for this, I am
  sure Dr. King would be proud.
• Essay excerpt
• Wherever and whenever there has been gay
  oppression, there has also been a way to fight
  it. Maybe instead of choosing to hide their
  sexuality in the proverbial closet, or end their
  lives, gay men and women will use nonviolent
  resistance using activism through pride as their
  weapon. No matter what, every gay person must
  choose the path that feels right for them.
  Because unless we do something drastic to change
  the worlds opinion of gay sexuality, there will
  still be oppression and need to fight it.

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Student example 2

• After reading several of the professional essays
  in their text that dealt with gender as a theme,
  students wrote journal entries. Then they had to
  write an extended definition essay of either
  masculine or feminine, referencing the text
  readings.

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Student example 2

• Journal entry excerpt
• I always hear a lot about womens rights, but
  rarely ever see similar problems about what the
  everyday man goes through. Men have their
  battles as well and they may go unnoticed.
  However, the mans role in the household may be
  changing from what it used to be. The
  stereotypical roles that men and women may be
  locked into are outdated. My father was quite a
  workaholic. His role was to be the breadwinner.
  It has taken a lot of time to try to soften his
  viewpoint on what his role is as a father.
• Essay excerpt
• My sister and I always joke that my Dad raised
  two little boys, instead of two little girls.
  Who could blame him? He was suddenly thrust into
  the role of nurturer after our Mom left.
• For me, being feminine is defined as being
  strong, well educated, and sporting the perfect
  look in a pair of Jimmy Choos.

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Why journals work

• Students like the freedom of format and
  interpretation.
• They are more accountable for their responses.
  They must make a PERSONAL connection.
• Class discussions are more engaging and more
  meaningful
• Essay writing becomes easier because they use
  their journals

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• When we are building a life from scratch, we
  must dig a little. We must be like that hen
  scratching the soil What goodness is hidden
  here, just below the surface? we must ask.
• Julie Cameron, Author of The Sound of Paper
  Starting from Scratch