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PWR 1LS: Beyond the Achievement Gap: Writing about Education

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Catalog Number: PWR 1LS

Instructor: Lisa Swan

Units: 4

Grade option: Letter (ABCD/NP)

Prerequisite: None

Course Feature: WR-1 requirement

Schedule

What really affects students’ success in life—their academic achievement or their educational opportunities? Are students choosing to drop out of high school, or are they being pushed out by the system? And what does the SAT measure: college readiness or socioeconomic background? Education is unparalleled in its power to transform lives. Just think about the one teacher who made learning exciting or that class that changed how you understood the world. We all want to believe education is “the great equalizer,” but why doesn’t it always work out? And what can you do to envision a future with greater opportunities for all?  

This class invites you to research and write about the real issues shaping education today. No need to be an expert—you will select a research topic that is meaningful for your life, interests, or future major. Possible topics include technology like ChatGPT or Khan Academy, college admissions and rankings, history or climate change curricula, athletics, ethnic studies, rural schools, disciplinary policies, accessibility, the STEM pipeline, weed out courses, grade inflation, or FLI students.

To frame your research, we will explore questions of fairness, access, and opportunity, and see how they are tackled in public debate, documentaries, and journalism. Then we will look at current scholarly research in education, sociology, psychology, history, philosophy, or technology. For example, students interested in selective enrollment magnet schools may watch the documentary Try Harder about Lowell High School in San Francisco and learn about the history of school choice in the American Education Research Journal. After getting a full picture of the current conversation, students will develop their own argument about their topic and write a research essay aimed at audiences that matter—be it your peers, community, or future educators.

Rhetorical Analysis

(1500-1800 words; 5-6 pages) Students will analyze how a public journalism text frames and communicates an education problem. Possible texts include magazine stories, cartoons, “scrollytelling,” podcasts, or explainer videos.  

Texts in Conversation Essay

(1800-2400 words; 6-8 pages) To prepare for your next essay, you’ll select an education problem, research it from a variety of perspectives, and write an annotated bibliography and synthesis essay about the conversation surrounding your topic.

Research-Based Argument

(3600-4500 words; 12-15 pages) You will continue to research your topic, drawing on both scholarly and public sources, before writing a longform feature article that takes a position within the conversation.