Facilitator: David M. Grant
“There seems to be widespread agreement that—when it comes to the writing skills of college students—we are in the midst of a crisis. In Why They Can't Write, John Warner, who taught writing at the college level for two decades, argues that the problem isn't caused by a lack of rigor, smartphones, some generational character defect. Instead, he argues, we're teaching writing wrong. “Warner blames this on decades of educational reform rooted in standardization, assessments, and accountability. Rather than making choices and thinking critically, as writers must, undergraduates simply follow the rules—such as the five-paragraph essay—designed to help them pass high-stakes assessments.
"In Why They Can't Write, Warner has crafted both a diagnosis for what ails us and a blueprint for fixing a broken system. Combining current knowledge of what works in teaching and learning with the most enduring philosophies of classical education, this book challenges readers to develop the skills, attitudes, knowledge, and habits of mind of strong writers.” [from the publisher] Find out what you can do for your students here at UNI, no matter your field of study.
Tuesdays, 12:30pm-1:30pm: 9/24, 10/8, 10/22, 11/5, 11/19 (Library 378)
Please enroll by Friday, September 13
Click here to enroll in Why They Can’t Write