Engaging Ideas: The Professor's Guide to Integrating Writing,…

Teaching for critical thinking, especially in a way that fosters student engagement and active learning, is even more important today than when the first edition of this best-selling classic was published. In this thoroughly revised and updated edition, John Bean offers a practical guide for designing writing and critical thinking activities and incorporating them into courses across all disciplines in ways that stimulate inquiry, exploration, discussion, and debate.

In this second edition, Bean integrates recent pedagogical research, brings rhetorical theory to bear on writing in the disciplines, addresses quantitative and scientific literacy, advocates a new approach to the research paper, includes activities for online and blended learning environments, and offers new ideas for transformative assessment of student learning.

No matter what course you teach, you will always teach writing (unless you are an acting teacher, I guess) and at least one learning goal has to focus on helping students express their thinking about their course of study well...and in writing. To reach that goal, you'll need writing activities and a plan for strengthening the writing skills of your students throughout the semester. This book will take any instructor from any discipline through the process of incorporating more and better writing assignments/activities in a classroom, categorizing them by the type of skill represented. Necessary chapers--engaging all learners, dealing with grammar issues, how to design types of assignments, and how to coach students toward your ideal vision of writer. Definitely read this book before planning (or when revising) your course. ( )

Excellent guide to encouraging active learning and critical thinking. Got me through my first teaching assessment! ( )