Teaching CO130 Academic Writing

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General tips:

• Don't make assumptions!
• Be aware of language barriers.
• Be explicit.
• Take it slow.
• Consider vocabulary.
• Be patient.

• Cultural considerations
• Avoid lobbying
• Set explicit (orally and in writing) expectations from the beginning.
• Clearly define cheating and consequences.
• Clearly set deadlines and consequences for not meeting them.
• Clearly define grading policies.
• Be friendly but firm.
• Above all, be consistent.
• cheating vs. 'helping"

• Educational background
• Developing independence (used to being spoonfed)
• Critical thinking skills

Other points:

International students may have had low literacy skills in their first language, so critical reading/thinking will be a weak point. Ask students to circle words they don't know and then work on vocabulary.

Teachers may also want to elicit some cultural background as well.

International students cannot read cursive script.

Saudi students are happy to lobby for each other; gender isn't usually a big part of the dynamic with Saudi students, but you need to be firm.

If you have questions, feel free to contact Mary.Wedum@colostate.edu or Nancy.Berry@colostate.edu. Comp faculty are also happy to arrange a meeting with all instructors of CO130 and these resource folks.