CSUN Stretch Project 1

CSUN STRETCH COMPOSITION The stretch composition courses are designed to teach students to write effectively in Edited American English; to find facts to develop their ideas; to organize and present material clearly, logically and persuasively; and to read multicultural expository prose critically and accurately. In addition, students will be able to integrate cutting-edge information age technology into their writing. Students do better with their writing coursework and feel better about their learning experience when given more time to write, revise, and discuss writing with a familiar cohort and instructor. Those institutions that have adopted a stretch model demonstrate conclusively a rise in student retention and pass rate. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds who score in the lower level of the English Placement Test are afforded greater access and opportunity to develop college-level writing with support services, such as tutoring and peer mentoring. Students traditionally labeled "remedial" do best with a stretch model. A stretch model recognizes that the work done in "remedial" writing courses is already legitimate university work and should not be seen as "pre-college." A one-year, two-semester stretch course removes the stigma of "remedial"; any label such as "remedial" or "pre-college" negatively impacts the student's emotional and intellectual well-being. PROJECT WEB: Project Web asks that students form groups of three or four and, in conversation with each group member, design a blog devoted to a particular theme decided on by the group. Groups read and write about technology and social change, immediacy, hypermediacy, and remediation. Note that blogs should include graphics, video, and animation that illustrate the content and themes of your particular blog posts. Each blog post will be academic in content and style. The blog provides students with an alternative space in which to practice writing and revision. Project Web Requirements: Critical reading Blog title Preferred emails on blog Introduction to blog (stating purpose, theme, and group members--no references to class) Various posts related to blog theme, with creative use of new media (e.g., YouTube clips and other Web media) Group presentation Individual essays (@1,000 words; hardcopy for review and Web version posted on blog) demonstrating good scholarly research. Director: Steven Wexler Producer: Jeff Klepper Production Coordinator: Mandy Macklin Stretch Professors: Rachael Jordan Elizabeth Jurgensen Nicole Warwick Maria Turnmeyer Jada Augustine Margeaux Gamboa-Wong Deborah Averill Michelle Mutti Mandy Macklin Jeff Klepper Students: Ashley Agunbiade Brian Gross Camera A: Aaron Schoenke Video Production: [email protected]