Using drawings by secondary preservice teachers to study their writing process and apprehension

Abstract

Drawings by 115 secondary preservice teachers of their writing process for a typical term paper and a nontraditional "how-to" book (which describes how to do something) were contrasted. Revision was the focus of the typical papers; whereas, ownership and book-making were the focus of "how-to" book sketches. Preservice teachers' writing apprehension was reduced after writing a "how-to" book. Drawings and survey answers of preservice teachers who increased or decreased their writing apprehension by one standard deviation after writing a "how-to" book were compared. Preservice teachers who reduced their writing apprehension reported enjoying the "how-to" book writing more in comparison to past writing, had more ownership, and were more likely to ask their future students to write a "how-to" book.

Reference

Daisey, P. (2008). Using drawings by secondary preservice teachers to study their writing process and apprehension. In M. M. Foote, S. Szabo, F. Falk-Rose, & M. B. Sampson (Eds.), The Twenty-Ninth Yearbook A Peer Reviewed Publication of The College Reading Association (Vol. 29, pp. 201–218). Commerce, TX: College Reading Association.

Journal

Yearbook of the College Reading Association

Analysis

Is this article part of a larger project or series of studies?

unclear

Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?

Research Approach

Quasi-experimental

Geographic Setting

Midwestern University

Institutional Context

University based

Certification Level

Secondary

Programatic Focus

not stated

Research Location Context

Content area literacy course

Preservice Participants

Graduate and undergraduate

Preservice Sample Size

115

Duration of Data Collection

1 semester

Data Sources

Likert style survey
student work

Data Analysis Tools

chi-square test
Constant comparative analysis
Statistical analysis
t-test

Researcher Positionality

not stated

Research Questions

Does writing a "how-to" book reduce the writing apprehension of secondary preservice teachers?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes

What steps of the writing process are the focus for preservice teachers for their "how-to" books in comparison to a term paper?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes

What steps of the "how-to" book writing process are the focus for secondary preservice teachers whose writing apprehension decreased in contrast to those whose writing apprehension increased?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes

How do attitudes toward writing, and predictions about future inclusion of instructional content area writing, compare for those secondary preservice teachers whose writing apprehension decreased versus those that increase after writing a "how-to" book?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes