CONNECT Writing Project

On March 24, 2006 The CONNECT First-Year Writing Group gave a presentation entitled “CONNECT: Building Coalitions for Common Outcomes in First Year English at Five Colleges.” This 75-minute session provided an audience representing seven states, from Massachusetts to Oregon, with an overview of the development of strong lines of communication related to first-year writing instruction at Bristol Community College, Cape Cod Community College, Massasoit Community College, Bridgewater State College and The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The participants in the presentation were the following:

• Evelyn Pezzulich, Chair of the English Department at Bridgewater State College, who chaired the presentation.
• Patty White, Writing Program Administrator at UMASS Dartmouth.
• Linda Cohen, Professor of English at Massasoit Community College.
• Thomas Grady, Professor of English at Bristol Community College.
• Michael Olendzenski, Professor of English at Cape Cod Community College.

The session was both informative and interactive. First, Michael Olendzenski summarized the history of the CONNECT First-Year Writing Group, emphasizing the successes of the group in overcoming stereotypical thinking about each other and coming to accept each other as equal partners in the important enterprise of providing effective college-level writing instruction. Next, Tom Grady led the audience through an interactive experience in which they read three sample student essays and, using a grid of desirable student outcomes developed by CONNECT as a guide, arrived at consensus with respect to whether the essays displayed the distinctive features of novice, practitioner, or expert writers. Patty White then asked probing questions of the audience, eliciting insights around points of disagreement in rating the essays. A lively discussion followed.

Linda Cohen wrapped up the session with concluding remarks and an invitation to the audience to bring the ideas presented in the session back to their home campuses. Feedback cards distributed at the conclusion of the session revealed that the audience was energized by the presentation, and that several participants intend to initiate efforts to establish CONNECT-like linkages where they teach, and to stay in touch through the CONNECT website. All in all, the presentation was a success.

CONNECT is a Southeastern Massachusetts Public Higher Education Partnership of all three sectors of public higher education in the state: Bristol Community College, Cape Cod Community College, Massasoit Community College, Bridgewater State College, and University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth.

Copyright 2006