Afterword: With and Because of Genevieve
Afterword: With and Because of Genevieve
Donna Qualley
Reasons for Attending Class and Turning in Work on Time for Students to Think About
English 101 teachers expect that students will not already know how to do the work in this course and that they won’t be able to do it without some explicit instruction and practice.
Most of the assignments in English 101 have a “shelf life.” In other words, the intended learning benefits of the work lose their purpose and potency if not utilized at the time specified. There is a right or opportune moment for when learning is most beneficial (Kairos).
English 101 is a “doing” class. If students are absent, they cannot simply make-up an assignment, read the text, or get the notes and be “caught up.” Engaging in class discussion, practicing new writing strategies, and engaging in small group writing activities cannot be re-captured or “made-up.”
English 101 is a writing course. Writing is one method of intellectual participation that involves cultivating relationships with ideas—our own and others. The goal of students’ intellectual participation is better learning for everybody.
Students enlarge their perspectives by hearing and thinking about what others have to say. When students are absent, they not only deprive themselves of new thinking; they also deprive their colleagues of the benefit of their unique perspectives.
Teachers do not understand why students would pay so much money for a college education and then fail to get their money’s worth by not learning, not participating, and not attending class.
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