Category Archives: Language Diversity

Jerry Won Lee

Hi everyone.  For next week, please read “Beyond Translingualism” by Jerry Won Lee HERE. We’ll be spending the first half of PD discussing his proposals for assessment and how we might revise them so that they are user-friendly for adjuncts teaching multiple courses.  We’ll spend the second half of the session working on commenting on student essays using minimal marking strategies.

We’ll be meeting on Monday March 2 and Thursday March 5

Bad Ideas About Grammar

Hello everyone! These are our readings for next time (Thursday Feb 20 and Monday Feb 24). They’re both from BAD IDEAS ABOUT WRITING. Keep in mind the titles are both “bad ideas” which the authors seek to disprove. The first is “Teaching Grammar Improves Writing” and the second is “There is One Correct Way of Writing and Speaking.” We’ll discuss them in depth when we speak. They’re both suitable for students.  I’ve attached both below.

The Thursday group will also have a guest speaker, Lubie Alatriste. She’s a linguist, as well as the head of our ELL dept.

Please sign up for the dropbox, which Christine Choi sent you an email about. This will serve as our repository for assignment ideas, unit drafts and a place for you guys to put articles you find useful.

Download (PDF, 151KB)

Download (PDF, 89KB)

Wednesday, Oct 23

Hi Everyone! We will reconvene on Wednesday, Oct 23 to talk about grading/ commenting on student essays. In preparation, there will be two readings: the classic (if you’re a Comp geek like me) “Responding to Student Writing” by Nancy Sommers and the very thought-provoking “Beyond Translingual Writing” by Jerry Won Lee.

We’ll be visited by Lubie Alatriste, the head of our ELL department, who will be talking with us about various linguistic and language issues. And we’ll talk about “minimal marking” strategies and other strategies that have worked for us when commenting on student papers. I’ll also be asking you about your commenting persona, if that makes sense: who are you trying to be in your comments? A coach, a buddy, a judge, etc… So think about that a little bit throughout the week.

We’ll be back in the President’s Conference Room, where we met last time– because we’re fancy. 4 pm as always.

Lesson plan “Mother Tongue”


How do you integrate all the languages you speak?

Respond in writing to the following:

  • How many languages do you speak? Here I mean, not necessarily foreign languages but languages you speak with friends, languages you speak with family, languages you may speak with people with whom you share a hobby like a sport.
  • To whom do you speak those different languages?
  • How do you feel about speaking different languages to different people in different contexts?
  • How does your intended audience impact how you speak to someone and the word choice you use?
  • How does the purpose for your communication impact what you say and how you say it?
  • How can you have a similar message or purpose for different audiences but use different word choice based on your audience?

Discuss with a partner, and then we will discuss this as a class.

Let’s watch Amy Tan’s speech at the White House and do

Say Mean Matter about it.

Let’s do a little role play of how you would ask your mom for a raise on your allowance.

Now, let’s do another role play on how you would ask your boss for a raise.

What did you notice about the language?

Take out the SOAPSTONE chart that we used with “Superman and Me,” and do the same thing for “Mother Tongue” and go over it.

Let’s look at how Amy Tan brings her mother and her language to life. Let’s reread as a class paragraph five. In paragraph five what techniques does Amy Tan use to bring her mother’s language to life?

How does she contrast the way her mother sounds to what her mother knows and can understand?

When you write narratives, use dialogue, frame dialogue, develop concrete, specific details, use verbs precisely and use your senses. Show, don’t tell. This came from the students

Definition of anecdote- a usually short narrative of an interesting, amusing or biographical incident.


In this essay, Tan uses anecdotes about herself and her mother with the stockbroker and the hospital. Reread 0page2, paragraphs 2-7, and discuss with a partner what makes these anecdotes effective? Make a list and we will share the list.

Use verbs precisely

Add dialogue

Use your senses

Add concrete detail to create a scene.

Build a scene


You are going to write anecdotes about your own reading and writing life. Think about your own reading, writing or speaking life.   Think of an anecdote from your own life? Write it down. Use what we found effective about the Tan essay in your own writing.

Share what you have written with your partner.


  • Do Homework for Open Lab. It’s easy.
  • Do the Brainstorming Worksheet and questions about Baldwin and the Tyson video. The Tyson video is on Blackboard.