SteAming Ahead in Writing Janis Innis

Seamlessly in Writing Assignments Incorporating SteAm Seamlessly in Writing Assignments

SteAm Topics in Our Own Backyard Buffalo Bayou Energy Corridor Galveston Historical District Johnson Space Center The Medical Center Museum District Port of Houston San Jacinto Battleground Superfund Sites Theater District

Buffalo Bayou

Energy Corridor

Galveston Historical District

Johnson Space Center

The Medical Center

Museum District

Port of Houston

San Jacinto Battleground

Superfund Sites

Theater District

Using SteAM Topics Essays Presentations Group Projects Field Trip Reports Narratives Research Papers Play Reviews Speeches Critical Responses Civic Investigations Career Overviews Pollution Assessments

Specific Writing Assignments NASA Spinoffs History and Mediation of Superfund Sites Tour and Observations of the Ship Channel via the Sam Houston Civil War Battle in Galveston The Great Storm of 1900 Mission to Mars Space Elevator to the Moon Tour and Observations of the Johnson Space Center

SteAm Topic Tips Discuss SteAm and its implications for Houston and HCC students Show how the writing assignment supports the SteAm theme and why it is important Use group work for research and presentations Discuss why research and writing is important for all areas of SteAm Encourage students to use critical thinking skills during the research and thesis stage of their writing Keep an open mind to the opinions they may form but guide them to use facts to support those opinions

Interesting Results of SteAM Students will enjoy the variety of the writing topics Research becomes more personal when the topics are based on the Houston area SteAm writing assignments can provide students with new goals for their studies and future careers The variety of topics adds interest and appeal for the students

Janis.Innis@hccs.edu Professor Innis is a full time English instructor at Houston Community College since 2006 Her credentials include a B.A., M.A. and A.B.D. (all but dissertation) towards a Ph.D. in English from the University of Mississippi Research areas and teaching interests: Rhetoric and Literature A fifth generation Texan, she began her college studies at San Jacinto College She has taught college English for over twenty-five years