Reaching out : preliminary research on the communication between secondary and college writing instructors

Abstract

During the CCCC 2012 session, “Composition’s Roots in English Education,” Thomas Newkirk explained, “[students] are the winners” if communication is established between K-12 schools and postsecondary institutions. This communication, then, has the potential to support a smoother transition for students from one level of education to the next. With this in mind, this research project discusses current expectations and goals secondary and postsecondary instructors have for students, and how these expectations and goals contribute to the amount, articulation and collaboration that may or may not happen between teachers and across institutions. From the results of a survey and interviews, this study intends to draw out teacher narratives, responding to Newkirk’s call for communication between different levels of education. It is concerned with who is telling these stories, especially those stories that uncover how instructors can accommodate students in their academic careers as they transition from secondary to postsecondary composition.