Disconnect and Reconnect: Getting from High School to College in NJ

Survey of NJ High School and College Instructors 165 instructors 2/3 college 1/3 high school

College composition instructors will expect writers to know what they meant to say before they begin to write.

College composition instructors will consider the use of "I" inappropriate in students' papers.

Percentage of time spent on key areas in the curriculum*

Percentage of grade allotted to key assignments*

What percentage of essays goes through a drafting process, so that there is at least one rough draft before the final, graded draft?

Differences Across the State Should college students know what they meant to say before writing? Is the use of “I” inappropriate in students’ papers in college? Should all papers submitted for evaluation be formal and academic? Will college instructors guide students towards the correct interpretation of literary works? Will college students be expected to use the five-paragraph structure?

New Jersey Writing Alliance Initiated by Kurt Spellmeyer, director of the first-year writing program at Rutgers Inauspicious start Annual conference hosted by colleges or universities of members Steering committee Growth spurred by high school teachers’ need for professional development credits Marketing through NJEA Professional Development Showcase and NJ Principals and Supervisors Association

Mission Statement The New Jersey Writing Alliance sponsors conferences and workshops about college-level composition instruction, as well as forums for the exchange of ideas and resources. Members of the Alliance include instructors and administrators from New Jersey's public and private 2- and 4-year colleges and high school teachers who are involved in preparing students for college writing. Writing Alliance meetings address the evolving concerns of its members about issues such as curriculum, standards, technology, and student outreach as these affect the teaching of writing. We are particularly committed to promoting dialogue about the cultures of two- and four-year colleges. Through our ongoing conversation, we hope to define and voice our common concerns.

NJWA website

Successes Conference attracts writing instructors from around the state Presentations and workshops given by college and high school instructors Initiation of dialogue within high schools based on survey Opportunities for dialogue between high school and college instructors Norming sessions WAC conference with teams across the high school-college divide

Challenges Attendance of Steering Committee by high school instructors Attracting equal numbers of college professors Creating an organization that does not burn out Attracting grant money Creating a website that is a resource for all writing instructors in NJ Structural imbalances, hierarchical relationships: Rewards for scholarship vs. rewards for teaching College instructors provide direction and theory; high school instructors provide pragmatic classroom know-how Colleges and universities promulgate standards; high school instructors learn and meet those standards