"Hello, I'm Carbon.": Writing about Elements and Compounds

UNCP Author/Contributor (non-UNCP co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Dr. Roland P. Stout, Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Pembroke (UNCP )
Web Site: http://www.uncp.edu/academics/library

Abstract: General chemistry students are asked to assume the identity of an element and to write their own story. In the spirit of pedagogical approaches such as writing-to-learn and writing across the curriculum, this assignment has several objectives, most significantly to connect students to the discipline of chemistry in a robust way. Facilitating this process writing assignment and evaluating it using a three-dimensional grading rubric are discussed. Suggestions of how to convince students to write a story rather than a report and summaries of four student autobiographies are given. The article discusses the assignment grading and other mechanics used in the experiment. It shows the traits of good and poor elemental autobiographies used in assessing the assignment. The feedback of the experiment is also presented.

Additional Information

Publication
Journal of Chemical Education 87.11 (2010)
Language: English
Date: 2010
Keywords
Scientific Experimentation, Chemistry, Education, Student Assignments, Autobiography, Authorship, Composition, Language Arts, Science, Teaching, High School/Introductory Chemistry, General Chemistry, First-Year Undergraduate Students, Student-Centered Learning, Hands-on Learning, Communications, Writing, Writing across the Curriculum

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