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Clark Atlanta University Panther
October 19, 1990
Faculty: Students’ Writing Skills Below Par
By MARGARET J. HUNTER
Contributing Writer
Teaching methods as well as subjects have
changed drastically over the last 20 years.
However, some writing instructors at Clark'
Atlanta University are recommending that
curriculums be developed wherein students
spend more time on the basics — reading and
writing.
The Department of Mass Media Arts will
produce the writers of tomorrow — journalists,
public relations practitioners, screen writers, etc.
However, test results and writing assignments
show that many mass media arts majors have
serious writing deficiencies.
Why? To find the answer, this reporter
interviewed writing instructors from the the
Department of English and the Department of
Mass Media Arts. Their concensus was that
students need to read and write more often.
Dr. Phyllis Emanuel, an English instructor,
said, “In many instances, students simply do not
have enough information in order to write
coherently. If an instructor gives students a topic
and asks them to write a five-paragraph theme,
many would write five paragraphs of repetitious
material. They simply do not have enough
information at their finger tips.’
Dr. Emanuel said not only do students have
problems in the content of their themes, but also
they have grammatical problems.
"The students grammar skills are minimal.
When students are given an objectve test to
identify subject-verb agreement or pronoun
reference, they can pass the test. But, it is not
transfered into their writing. When you receive
the students’ papers there is poor subject-verb
agreement, pronoun reference and often there
are shifts in viewpoint,” she said.
Although Dr.Emanuel is an English
instructor, she also helps students in the writing
laboratory. In many cases, the English classes
are too large or the instructor does not have
enough time to help a student with problems.
Therefore, the writing facility gives students
one-on-one attention.
However, Dr. Emanuel said she is
disappointed that students show little interest in
the writing laboratory. Many times the
instructor tells them to register but they fail to
come, she said.
Dr. Emanuel said emphatically, “Students are
concerned about the final grade, but not with
improving their weaknesses.”
Dr. Sandra Flowers, former director of the
Communication Skills Center, researched and
evaluated writing submitted by students. This
study was conducted over a four-year period
between 1984 and 1988. Dr. Flowers found both
freshman and upperclassman had writing
problems. Now the Communication Skills
Center facilitates students of all levels.
Betty Chaney, writing specialist for the
Communication Skills Center, helps students
address their writing problems. The Center has
computers that enable students to use software
programs to help instruct them in the various
areas of composition.
“Students do not get enough practice in
writing,” Ms. Chaney said. “Many times
students in high school are cocentrating on
grammar. They do not have enough time to
write, so when they get to college students are
unprepared to write. The old expression is
practice makes perfect.”
Ms. Chaney’s views on grammar are similar to
those of Dr. Emanuel’s. “Grammar is the
discipline you can study over and over again and
still not master it. The students know a little
grammar, but when they put it into practice,
grammar does not warrant the time students put
into it. Students need to write more. They should
be able to write across the curriculum,” *he said.
Ms. Chaney added, “Students like to sound
good and forget clarity. They enjoy sounding
intellectual.”
James D. McJunkins, chair, the Department
of Mass Media Arts, agrees that students need to
write more. He said, generally mass media arts
students’ writing skills are below standard. One
reason, he feels, is that many have misplaced
priorities and they are concentrating too much
on other things besides college work.
“Many work 40 hours a week week. I can
understand a students having to work in order to
pay for their education. But I find that too many
students are working to buy the fanciest cars or
the highest-priced stereos,” he said.
McJunkins, Ms.Chaney and Dr. Emanuel
agreed students are not reading enough.
According to an article appearing in the Oct 4
issue Atlanta Journal and Constitution,
Americans are not spending enough time
reading. The article entitled, “A Fresh Look For
Daily Papers” lists statistics showing the
younger generation “knows less, cares less and
reads newspapers less” than any generation in
the past 50 years.
Another article in the same publication Sept.
27, entitled “Performance of U.S. Schools is
Low and not Improving” reveals that students’
performance over the past 20 years has declined.
The study blames parents not pushing their kids
to do homework or outside reading. It also
blames teachers who continue to rely on short
answer activity sheets.
“Students are
concerned about
the final grade but
not with improving
their weaknesses”
McJunkins said the rise in the number of
majors in the Department of Mass Media Arts
and the decline in the students’ basic writing
skills led the faculty to vote in favor of
administering an entrance examination to new
students in the department. The one-hour
examination, which is to select one of several
topics and develop an essay, was given for the
first time this year. Nearly a third of the students
who took the examination did not pass,
according to McJunkins. If these students are to
continue as a mass media arts majors they must
either pass the course English Grammar Review
or successfully complete an individually
prescribed program in the Communication
Skills Center before taking the examination
again, he said.
Recent surveys show students reading at a
surface level. They are unble to analyze or even
understand content. Few high school students
can write effectively, according to surveys.
“The truth may be that relatively few children
are receiving the education need ed for life in the
21st Century,” onee article concludes.
Despite students not receiving the necessary
education, McJunkins said that mass media arts
majors will still have to meet the department’s
standards of developing effective communica
tion skills. They must be able to speak and write
properly, he said.
A new course which mass media arts majors
are required to take their senior year involves
writing an extensive research paper and
successfully defending the paper before a jury of
at least three faculty members before they can
graduate.
“1 can assure you that in the future you are
going to see a new breed of graduates from our
department — graduates who we are going to be
proud of,” said McJunkins.
NEWSBITS
CA U Receives Department of Energy Grant
The U.S. Department of Energy will award a $4.3 million
grant to Clark Atlanta University and 14 other historically
Black colleges and universities to establish environmental
education programs. The partnership will increase the
numbers of scientists, engineers, technicians and other
professionals who will teach minority and disadvantaged
students about the environment and waste management.
C. Eric Lincoln Lectureship Series Begins
The Eighth Annual C. Eric Lincoln Lectureship series,
sponsored by the School of Arts and Sciences, the
Humanities Division and the Department of Religion and
Philosophy, is scheduled for Oct. 23, 10:50 a.m. in Davage
Auditorium. The series will focus on the writings and
scholarship of Dr. Lincoln. The theme for this year’s lecture
is “C. Eric Lincoln: A Scholar For All Seasons.”
Test Drive Your Career
The Center for Cooperative Learning is sponsoring a
series of career development seminars with the theme, “Test
Drive Your Career.” They are held every Thursday, 11 a.m.
to 12:30 p.m. in Thayer Hall room 121. These series will
continue until the end of November. Upcoming seminars
topics are “Finding a Mentor: Minorities and Free
Enterprise,” Oct. 25 and “Interviewing Techniques” Nov. 1.
A UC To Salute Civil Rights Movement
Clark Atlanta University will sponsor the 30th
Anniversary of the Atlanta University Civil Rights
Movement Nov. 10 and Nov. 11. The anniversary
celebrations will be a center-wide event honoring former
students of the AUC Sit-In Movement, which led to the
desegregation of public accommodations in Atlanta.
Activities will include several workshops for students and a
recognition banquet.
Yearbooks Are Here!
The 1989-90 Yearbooks are now available from the
Student Government Associaton Office in Thayer Hall
room 109.
CA U Players Presents ‘Boesman And Lena’
The play “Boesman and Lena,” written by Athol Fugard
and directed by Joan Williams Lewis, opened Thursday. It
will run through Saturday. Show time is 8 p.m. in Davage
Auditorium. “Boesman and Lena” offers a look at the lives
of a South African couple as they seek shelter, love,
acceptance and understanding in a world filled with
hostility, lonliness and hopelessness. The production
features guest artists Felix Knox, LaTangela Rees, Renel
Lewis and Earl McKinely.
Career Day Draws Hundreds
Continued From Page 1
the Atlanta School Board from 1972 to 1982. During his term
he worked side-by-side with the late renowned educator Dr.
Benjamin E. Mays. His areas of training include: a B.A. in
social science, a master’s in sociology, a doctorate in counseling
psychology and a J.D. degree in law. Dr. Lee hopes that this
will assist in winning the election because the Board of
Education is a major department in the city. If elected he will
have to make policies relative to city government. However, he
commented that setting policies will not be new to him because
of the experience he has in city politics.
He has received contributions from friends and a few
businesses, but the majority of his campaign is funded by
personal contributions. Not only are friends voting for him,
but they are encouraging him to run. “I have received words of
encouragement from the people who know me and my work,”
stated Dr. Lee. Along with his friends, he agrees that he is a
good candidate. “I am probably the most qualified candidate
in the race based on my training and experience. However, that
doesn’t always win,” he added.
According to Dr. Lee, the 10th district is made up primarily
of middle and upper class citizens and senior citizens. It covers
a portion of southwest Atlanta, including some parts of
Hightower Road, Fulton Industrial Blvd and Cascade Road.
In addition, to being a Clark Atlanta University professor,
he is also the chairman of the Psychology Department and a
1953 Clark College graduate.