Engaging Ideas

JOHN C. BEAN, PhD, is Emeritus Professor of English at Seattle University. He received his doctorate in Renaissance Literature from the University of Washington. He is Co-author of three composition textbooks — Writing Arguments, The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing, and Reading Rhetorically. DAN MELZER, PhD, is Professor in the University Writing Program and Director of First-Year Composition at the University of California. He received his doctorate in Rhetoric and Composition from Florida State University. He is a frequent speaker and lecturer at universities across the United States.

• PrefaceAbout the Authors1 Using Writing to Promote Thinking: A Busy Professor’s Guide to the Whole BookPART 1 UNDERSTANDING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THINKING AND WRITING2 How Writing Is Related to Critical Thinking3 Helping Students Think RhetoricallyPART 2 DESIGNING PROBLEM-BASED WRITING ASSIGNMENTS4 Formal Writing Assignments Situated in Rhetorical Contexts5 Informal, Exploratory Writing ActivitiesPART 3 COACHING STUDENTS AS LEARNERS, THINKERS, AND WRITERS6 Designing Tasks to Promote Active Thinking and Learning7 Helping Students Read Mindfully across the Disciplines8 Using Small Groups to Coach Thinking and Teach Disciplinary Argument9 Bringing More Critical Thinking into Lectures and Discussions10 Designing and Sequencing Assignments to Teach Undergraduate ResearchPART 4 RESPONDING TO AND GRADING STUDENT WRITING11 Helping Students Use Self-Assessment and Peer Review to Promote Revision and Reflection12 Using Rubrics to Develop and Apply Assessment Criteria13 Coaching the Writing Process and Handling the Paper Load14 Providing Effective and Efficient Feedback15 Responding to Grammar and Other Sentence-Level Concerns16 Alternatives to Traditional Grading: Portfolio Assessment and Contract GradingReferencesIndex