September 3, 2024: Fall Semester Previews: First-Year Writing

[As my 20th(!) year at Fitchburg State University kicks off, I’ll focus my Fall Semesterpreviews on one thing I’m especially excited about for each of my courses. Leadingup to a special post on a new scholarly project I’m very excited about aswell!]

I’vetaught at least one section of First-Year Writing I in every one of those 20Fall semesters, so it’s fair to say that most of what happens in this coursewill not be new to me (even if it’s genuinely the case that each community ofstudents forms its own identity in a way that keeps these courses freshnonetheless). But I do try to find ways to update the syllabi when possible,and for my two sections this Fall I’ve done so with the culminating assignment,a paper where the students combine personal and academic modes of writingaround a complex central topic of their choice. I’m a big believer in this finalpaper, as it helps me remind students that their personal identities, voices, perspectives,and experiences should always be part of their more formal academic work. Buthere in 2024, it seems to me that for many students, this assignment might makemore sense with digital components (or as an entirely digital product), ratherthan in writing on paper—so I’m going to include that as a parallel but distinctoption for this final paper, and hopefully we’ll work together to figure outhow each and every student can make this assignment fully and successfully theirs.

Next previewpost tomorrow,

Ben

PS. Whatare you excited to teach or work on this Fall?