HappyFeet

In class we have been talking about best methods to evaluate student writing.  I recently began teaching a WAC Basic Skills course focused on CTE Welding Technology students.  My first assignment for the class is below:

Most Americans begin to work legally at the age of 16.  That means that before we finally settle down in our life-long career or specific type of work, we will have worked a multitude of jobs gaining many skills.  For this writing assignment, I would like you to talk about your work experience dating back no more than 5-7 years.  I would like to hear about what type of work (industry) it belonged to, your responsibilities and duties while at work, positives and negatives about the job, any skills/abilities/specialty knowledge (tools, job specific vocabulary), or anything else relevant that you gained from those experiences.

 

I tailored this assignment like Dr. C’s lit autobiography, but I’m having them construct a work history/work autobiography.  The assignment is a gateway for them to begin to document their employment history and begin to compile the needed information for their resume and cover letter assignment that is soon approaching.  I’m just providing a little background and context about the assignment.  With no further ado…The Submission:

 

HappyFeet’s Work History

            When I was in high school I stared to learn about contrtion. One of the skills that I learn was cement. My responsibilities was to put cement onto the mixer and turn on the machine. My duty was to sure the cement wasn’t too watery. Sometime we didn’t have a machine so we had to mix it on ground. the first step of this process was empty the bag of cement  onto ground. Then you would make hole in middle… then you pour water onto the hole, after that you get a shovel pour the cement onto water and mix up.

            I learn how to landscape, I took out a tree tuck. The first step was I dig out dirt and then I chop the root off. My responsibility was to make sure that tree tuck can be remove dirt. Then we got the trunk and put the chaie allround the tree .  My duties was to sure that to fill in in hole. Then make sure that dirt was soleit.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

 

Yup, it was submitted to me just like this…Best believe I was like what the FRACK is this ish…(In my mind)… LOL.  My question to all of you is what comments would you have made to this student?  Keep in mind that this student has already expressed that he can’t write or spell “really good” from Day 1 and that he is a Gen 1.5 student.  I had a hard ass time not succumbing to “Red Pen Rage” reading it the first time through, as I think some of you might as well…LOL.  I have already given the student feedback and am waiting to see if changes are made.  I guess my more specific question would be at what point would you start addressing the obvious lack of grammar skills?  Would the grammar lesson be focused and planned or would you treat it as an incidental topic during another lecture?