Writing the true self: case studies of ENG 101 students responding to a Peter Elbow-inspired curriculum

My fulfillment in life comes through helping others develop their potential, work through their troubles, and follow their dreams. I have found that my college students embrace this aspect as I teach them expressive, author-involved writing. Peter Elbow’s work asserts that this type of writing fits into his theory of personal development, which is based on common ideals of self, belief, and voice. I have written instructional materials for introductory college composition courses that follow Elbow in these principles. I believe this course, “Writing the True Self,” and its accompanying philosophy strongly resonate with students attending Brigham Young University–Hawaii. Having been brought up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as LDS Church or Mormon Church), these students come from a cultural literacy context in which authorship and personal development are related. Therefore, in this research project, I examined student development in my English 101 classes at this church-sponsored university where 95% of students are Latter-day Saints. Particular attention was paid to changes in each person’s articulation of consciousness, core values, and higher aspects: the “personal logos of the heart,” or “true self.” The case studies were based primarily on two of their five assignments, impressions of their class participation, and transcripts of student-teacher conferences. They are portraits that suggest overwhelmingly that class members, in response to this curricular approach were gaining a deeper understanding of themselves.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Secondary & Continuing Educ

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2012

Author dc:creator

• Stansell, Jon

Contributors dc:contributor

• Witz, Klaus
• Davidson, Frederick G.
• Mortensen, Peter L.
• Gerlach, Henry U.

• ENG 101
• Composition
• Case Study
• Peter Elbow
• Writing
• Curriculum
• Essentialist Portraiture
• Student-Teacher Relationship
• Office Conferences
• LDS Church
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2012 Jon W. Stansell

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/31179

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/31179