This dissertation study has sought to understand both the experiences and expectations provided to students participating in a single basic writing course at a two-year college. Analysis of student writing artifacts, with the goal of comparing 21st century student written purpose with the written purposes shown in 19th century African American…

While many college students at two-year public colleges need Basic Writing classes before entering college-level writing courses, only 34% have successfully passed their Basic Writing classes (Ternes, 2008). Troyo (2000) maintained that the reason students failed in Basic Writing classes was that more research-based effective teaching strategies…