These are the slides from a presentation to the UNLV Grad Council previewing our report about our research on gradudate student writing.

1. Graduate Council Meeting - 23 September 2015
GraduateWritingatUNLV

2. • Insights about current graduate
student writing practices
• Give voice to experiences and
expectations of graduate
students and graduate faculty
• Articulate ways writing
functions as part of the
graduate student experience
GraduateWritingatUNLV
Why do this study?
http://7-themes.com/data_images/out/58/6970065-finding-nemo-dory.jpg

3. Make visible
the practices and
the culture of
graduate writing
at UNLV
Primary Study Goal
GraduateWritingatUNLV
http://blogs.managementconcepts.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/SoccerGoal.jpg

4. • Initiate new conversations
about the role, place, and
value of graduate student
writing
• Reassess writing practices in
the graduate curriculum
• Reassess levels of institutional
support for graduate writing
at UNLV
GraduateWritingatUNLV
Goals for the Report
http://web.unlv.edu/global/images/galleries/Campus/

5. • An online survey of
graduate students
• An online survey of
graduate faculty
Surveys
GraduateWritingatUNLV
The design of the study included:
http://honefiles.global.ssl.fastly.net/questions/5509ed3fd8fda408392a2eb1/96a7bde6-536b-4f14-9413-cd953f84c271/method.jpg

6. • Focus Groups: three groups
of graduate students and two
groups of graduate faculty
• External research of current
graduate student writing
initiatives across the country
Other Methods
GraduateWritingatUNLV
The design of the study included:
http://honefiles.global.ssl.fastly.net/questions/5509ed3fd8fda408392a2eb1/96a7bde6-536b-4f14-9413-cd953f84c271/method.jpg

7. 1,047Graduate Student Response
Response Rate
GraduateWritingatUNLV
365Graduate Faculty Response
http://buffalomountaincoop.org/wp-content/uploads/survey-results.jpg

8. GraduateWritingatUNLV
Gender
http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1943970/images/o-GENDER-EQUALITY-SIGN-facebook.jpg
Graduate Students
Female Male
63% 37%
Graduate Faculty
Female Male
39% 57%

9. We ENJOY Writing! (at least sometimes)
GraduateWritingatUNLV
Attitude about Writing
Graduate Students
42% - YES
46% - Sometimes
Graduate Faculty
68% - YES
30% - Sometimes
http://www.bigbellybooks.com/assets/images/Schatzer-3536web1.jpg

10. My Instructor - 39%
GraduateWritingatUNLV
Early Stages of Writing
https://www.flickr.com/photos/pennstatelive/4946561701
Discussing Ideas before Drafting:
My Peers - 35%
In Class - 41%

11. GraduateWritingatUNLV
Peer Review
http://assets.rappler.com/612F469A6EA84F6BAE882D2B94A4B421/img/2C376DA98B604F2EA04EC647B0B59B4B/couple-multiple-screens-devices_2C376DA98B604F2EA04EC647B0B59B4B.jpg
w/ Instructor - 27%
Sharing Drafts:
w/ Peers - 11%
In Class - 10%

12. Collaborative Writing as KEY to our
Professional Development
GraduateWritingatUNLV
Collaboration
http://blog.andrefaria.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/pair-programming-300x225.jpg
76%
Agree or
Somewhat Agree
BUT, less than
10%
Participate in Regular
Writing Groups

13. GraduateWritingatUNLV
Drafts
1 or 2
Drafts
https://pixabay.com/p-849817/?no_redirect
Faculty Only
Expect:
1 or 2
Drafts
Students Only
Produce:

14. Instructor feedback
given after
ASSIGNMENT
SUBMITTED
62%
GraduateWritingatUNLV
Feedback
Instructor feedback
given after
PLANNING STAGE
58%
FIRST DRAFT
77%
http://www.relativelyinteresting.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/arguing-600x250.jpg
Graduate Students: Graduate Faculty:

15. Does the difference arise from how we
define “feedback”?
Does the difference arise from how we
define the “writing process”?
GraduateWritingatUNLV
What are the benefits for
responding at multiple
points in the process?
http://spfinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/1355376145904_health-insurance.jpg

16. GraduateWritingatUNLV
Types of Feedback
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2389/2756494307_a0380a96e0_b.jpg
Evaluation Criteria In-Line w/
Professional Standards:
92%
Feedback =
• In-Text Comments
• End Comments
• Editing

17. 0-25 Pages - 54%
26-50 Pages - 39%
GraduateWritingatUNLV
What and How Much Writing
• Research Papers
• Critiques
• Summaries
• and a whole lot
more!
http://blog.smartbear.com/wp-content/uploads/imports/weighing%20work%20load.jpg

18. GraduateWritingatUNLV
Across the Country
https://farm1.static.flickr.com/127/413534193_e1820ca48a.jpg
Most Common Initiatives:
• boot camps
• writing center services
• graduate writing courses
• writing groups
• writing institutes

19. GraduateWritingatUNLV
Expectations
http://cdn2.drprem.com/life/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2015/03/Aim-high-600x330.jpg
Perceptions of Faculty Expectations for a
High Quality of Writing at UNLV:
Graduate
Students
71%
Graduate
Faculty
30%

20. Do the graduate faculty numbers reflect
a distrust of other faculty on campus?
Do they reflect a concern for the quality
of the graduate students?
GraduateWritingatUNLV
Do they reflect a belief
that faculty have lowered
their standards?
http://spfinsurance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/1355376145904_health-insurance.jpg

21. We believe this report must initiate
larger conversations across campus
and encourage all of us to discuss
writing, and the teaching of writing
at the graduate level, in more
comprehensive and complex ways.
A Final Word
GraduateWritingatUNLV
http://web.unlv.edu/global/images/galleries/Campus/

22. If you have any questions /
comments / concerns,
please contact me by email:
ed.nagelhout@unlv.edu
Or give me a call:
5-5073
GraduateWritingatUNLV
Graduate Council Meeting - 23 September 2015