Critical Review of Helping Students Meet the Challenges of Academic Writing by Fernsten and Reda

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‘Helping students meet the challenges of academic writing’ by Fernsten and Reda is an interesting study how reflective writing practices can be useful for marginalized students, who are struggling with “negative writer self-identity. The possible causes according to Fernsten & Reda are, “issues such as race, class and gender that are marginalized factors for many basic writers”, in addition to the expectations of the dominant academic culture. However, even though Fernsten & Reda illuminated the ‘potential conflicts’ within the academic world, they have failed to provide conclusive evidence that supports their argument regarding their solution. Their reliance on dated research that provides a one sided historical perspective, may no longer accurately reflect current socio/economic issues. In addition, education has been evolving to an inclusive curriculum approach, as immigrated children enter the school system in record numbers. “Persons obtaining legal permanent status in the U.S from the year 2000-2010 are roughly eleven million” (Homeland Security,pg.10/2010). Fernsten & Reda’s confidence of their own limited teaching practices without legitimate comparables from an empirical study leads to their underlying assumptions about the true effectiveness of reflective writing strategies and the causes they believe are associated to a student’s socio/economic background. Evidence given in Fernsten & Reda’s article, lists the numerous barriers students endure academically due to their socio/economic background. Factors include “negative self-identity of believing they are ineffectual and inept writers and internalize aspects of negative instructor discourses”. (Fernsten & Reda). Additional confirmation under the ... ... middle of paper ... ... practices could be put into action, to build towards an anti-biased curriculum and inclusive environment. Works Cited 1) Carbone II, Steven A. (2010). Race, Class, and Oppression: Solutions for Active Learning and Literacy in the Classroom. Student Pulse, 2.01. Retrieved from: 2) Routio,Pentii. (2007). Planning an Empirical Study & Normative Point of View. http://www2.uiah.fi/projects/metodi 3) Kenneth Tyler | Ruby Stevens | Aesha Uqdah. (2003-2009). PREVALENCE OF CULTURAL BIAS EDUCATION. The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved http://www.education.com/reference/article/cultural-bias-in-teaching/ 4) Homeland Security. (2010) 2010 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics. Office of Immigration Statistics. http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/yearbook/2010/ois_yb_2010.pdf

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