Wednesday, November 14, 2001

Class takes writing skills off-campus
By Kristin Campbell
Staff Reporter

Cathy Gabor, a graduate student and English instructor, says although the students in her sophomore composition class are frustrated by the different approach she takes to teaching writing, they are also reaping the rewards of their efforts.

Gabor said she assigned her students one of eight projects that focuses on either the Masonic Home and School or projects in Fort Worth, such as a proposal to City Council to build a memorial statue for victims of terrorism. Students are responsible for proposing a solution that must be presented to an audience other than Gabor. Gabor said the students get frustrated because the projects consume a lot of time and is a group collaboration with high school students at Masonic Home and School.

“Any kind of collaborative writing is dependent on other people’s schedules, whims, memories and commitment to the project,” Gabor said. “The fact that they are frustrated by the experience is exactly what I wanted to happen.”

Gabor said the Masonic school has about 150 students from kindergarten to 12th grade. She said the Masonic school boards children whose parents cannot support them.

Meredith Clark, a sophomore radio-TV-film major, said she is working with two Masonic students and another TCU student to address the gun control problem in Fort Worth. She said their final proposal, which will be presented to the Fort Worth City Council, exposes the lack of gun control and the consequent effects the availability of guns has on the lives of children in this area, particularly the Masonic students.

“I’m proud to be helping (Masonic students) out,” Clark said. “I was humbled when I found out how much I didn’t know about Fort Worth.”

Gabor said she thinks she is the only instructor at TCU this extensively.

“The fact that they are experiencing writing as a process that they are not entirely in control of, is one of the most important learning outcomes of my class,” Gabor said.

“The majority of real-world writing is done collaboratively, at least in the business sector.”

Gabor also said three of her students are working with the Masonic Home and School marketing director to update the school’s Web site. The school does not have a student newspaper, but eight Masonic students are working with four TCU students to write a proposal requesting funding to start a paper, she said.

Another group is working on providing cars for Masonic students as part of an incentive program for students who demonstrate academic excellence, she said.

John Scharbauer, a sophomore pre-major, said he is working on publicity for the Future Farmers of America chapter at Masonic Home and School.

Scharbauer said he spends a lot of time outside of class working on his projects.

“At least we get out of the library,” Scharbauer said. “I’ll get the grade, but Masonic students will get much more.”

Gabor said she hopes to share her results with other professors and encourage them to attempt the same teaching method.

“Part of TCU’s mission is to act ethically and responsibly,” Gabor said. “This integrates service with academics to fulfill our mission.”

She said her students will give presentations of their work to staff and students at 4 p.m. Thursday at Masonic Home and School, 3600 Wichita St.

Kristin Campbell
k.a.campbell@student.tcu.edu