Dean Carlstrom

Inquiry Project
2/14/16
Dr. Hartman
EDU 683
College Composition
I.

Questions and Focus

A. What effects, if any, does the inclusion of an anthological reader have upon freshman
composition (thematic approach)?
B. What methodologies and writing assignments can best prepare freshmen for the writing
they will need throughout college?
C. What role, if any, should revision/grammar instruction play in freshman composition?

II.

Primary Data/Sources
A. Reflect upon past student commentary/preparedness.
B. Pose a survey to past students about what they needed, received, lacked.
C. Conduct interviews with current college composition professors (GWUDavis,
Buckner, Hartman, et al).
D. Contact Red Rocks writing professors potentially as well.
E. Collect student work from multiple topics (themes) before and after revision.
Observations and discussions with students.

III.

Secondary Sources
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

IV.

Consult Donald Murray book.

Consult book from college about teaching (still relevant?).
Search new teaching strategies for composition texts (Ask Dr. Hartman).
Research more revision strategies, cutting edge (Ask Dr. Hartman).
Consult GWU library and outside resources for additional information.

Concerns
A. Is my topic too broad?
B. I know Im not supposed to prove a hypothesis, but is my inquiry driven enough to
produce results? Should it?
C. What have I not considered?

V.

Goal:
To better understand and be able to teach freshmen college level students the essential
elements and methodologies to compose papers for success in beginning college composition.

Update

I have many thoughts racing through my head, and my mind is in a bit of a whirlwind. That
being said, I think I'm moving in the right direction.

Written: I have a couple of ideas here. First I am writing a spoof of Shakespeare's "To be or
not to be" soliloquy from Hamlet about the FYC aspect. (I am attaching a photo of what I
have so far--still rough). I am also going to complete another write up piece--maybe a letter
to editor type piece.
Sound: I want to find a song that could be inspirational for writing (I could potentially use
some that I use as prompts for my WAD, but I still need to research here. I also have a
couple of youtube videos depicting ECU faculty in interviews about FYC. I want to be able to
cut and edit the videos (don't know if this is viable) or at least present a small excerpt of
clip. I've found some good ones though.
Visual: I found a sample youtube video of a FYC presentation on sleep. I just need to blend
some things together.

For my tactile part I was imagining a gingerbread house or something I could create where
the parts all resemble components of FYC and writing.

Evidence below:

Attached Files:
Bill spoof.jpg(35.7kb)
FYC youtube ECU.docx(335.7kb)

Inquiry Project you-tube snippets

Sample Sleep/Rest
https://www.youtube.com/results?
search_query=teaching+freshman+composition&page=2