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Return to Table of Contents for More Strategies One of the techniques I have used in my developmental writing classes to begin the quarter involves brown bags (the kind we use to pack our lunches...if we don't have a lunch box). I ask students to put "things" in the brown bag that they have brought to class. The objects could be keys, a license, a pen, pictures, money...anything they have with them that doesn't prove embarrassing to them. They exchange bags and then each of the students empties the partner's bag and writes the impression he/she has of the partner based on the contents of the bag. No grade. Once that is done, they share with each other...reading to each other, the impressions they had. The partner agrees or disagrees and they share with one another who they really are. Then each person writes about "the new" partner. For homework, I ask each student to go home and write a description of the partner...looks and personality (so far). I do collect those. It breaks the ice, begins writing, and starts description and revision. --Linda Houston, English, Ohio State University (ATI), Ohio houston.1@osu.edu * * * * * The ON COURSE NEWSLETTER publishes innovative strategies for helping students become active, responsible learners. To subscribe to this bi-weekly (monthly in the summer) e-newsletter, click here and send the resulting e-mail. No need to type anything. Our computer will automatically add your return address to the list of subscribers. You're always in charge of your subscription, with a subscribe/unsubscribe link in every newsletter. Have a best practice to share? Click here and request our publication guidelines.
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