ERIC Number: EJ889915
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 10
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0092-055X
EISSN: N/A
Moving Forward Looking Backward: An Exercise in Recursive Thinking and Writing
Hudd, Suzanne S.; Bronson, Eric Franklyn
Teaching Sociology, v35 n3 p264-273 2007
This article presents a written assignment designed to achieve several goals. First, it offers students the chance to identify and examine the "pre-understandings" with which they enter the class, and to consider how these were formed. Once they have been elaborated, these "pre-understandings" inform the instructor and the student about biases and attitudes that may affect a student's ability to process and interpret course materials. A second goal of this assignment is to model a process of recursive thought through writing. On the final exam, students are required to revisit their prior thinking, to form new questions and potentially, new ideas about concepts and issues they have previously considered. In sum, the recursive nature of this assignment allows the instructor to evaluate student comprehension of course content and to observe the ways in which they have applied course concepts to modify or reinforce their beliefs. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Course Content, Writing Assignments, Bias, Reflection, Essays, Tests, Sociology, Social Environment, Social Stratification, Student Attitudes, College Students, College Instruction, Instructional Effectiveness, Teaching Methods, Class Activities
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A