People

History of the English Language; Rhetoric/Composition; Grammar and Education

My dissertation project is a study of 16th Century grammar and rhetoric manuals, examining their use of nationalist and religious rhetoric, and their influence upon the development of moralistic language attitudes in early modern England.

Writing Placement, ESL & Applied Linguistics, Generation 1.5 students in higher education

 

- In my position as a Research Assistant at the Sweetland Writing Center, I worked to develop and refine Michigan's new Directed-Self Placement process for all incoming Freshmen.  This project involved a comprehensive re-evaluation of the existing DSP system at UM -- including compilation of course data, grade reports, and instructor and student survey data -- all used to inform a new online system which now serves over 5,000 entering Freshmen every year.

 

- I am also working on a project to identify the writing and English language needs of UM's increasing population of "Generation 1.5" students (U.S. educated learners of ESL).  Mostly the children of immigrant families with educational experience in the U.S., these students often do not fit into the usual categories of "ESL," "Basic Writing," or mainstream Composition courses.  I am leading a two-year project, thanks to an Investigating Student Learning grant from the CRLT, which will identify ways in which the University's writing programs, course offerings, and instruction can better serve this group of students.