The final unit in the English 1 (Top Tier) course asked students to compose a critique, which in our class means a piece of writing that briefly summarizes a source text and then gives a critical response to it.
For instance, one student wrote about the appropriacy and effectiveness of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s official support of a paid dating app to fight against Japan’s declining population. Another chose to focus on the topical debate surrounding trans-gender athletes which has garnered attention in the sports media.
To complete this assignment, students needed to learn and practice summarizing/paraphrasing skills as well as developing their critical voice and making their writing their own. In an age where AI is continuously used (and mis-used) to assist in textual production, candid discussions about how to properly use AI in writing are all the more necessary to have.
Finally, this was the first chance students had to submit a revised draft of the same assignment after receiving feedback from peers and the teacher. Peer review was something the students were already familiar with on previous work, but acting on that peer feedback and engaging in the drafting process was a first for many of them. The vast majority of students were able to improve their writing on their final drafts, and could thereby learn the importance of revision and continuous improvement as well as the meaning behind the perennial phrase: “to write is to re-write.”
Now it is time to say goodbye to the students as the spring term draws to a close. Equipped with the skills that they learned in English 1, they are sure to be ready for the challenges that await them in English 2 where they will be asked to write even more carefully and even read a full-length novel on their own.
