If an English Composition Teacher Came to You and Asked

question 47

Multiple Choice

If an English composition teacher came to you and asked for a suggestion to improve the quality of students' writing that was based on social cognitive research, what would you say?

• A) The best way to improve one's writing is to practice writing.
• B) Give students lots of opportunities to practice writing and then have them grade each other's papers.
• C) Provide detailed lessons on the mechanics of writing followed by praise for correct use of mechanics.
• D) Provide opportunities for students to observe peers who think aloud as they write.

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Definitions:

Ergs

Basic innate drives or impulses that motivate behavior, often used in the context of psychoanalytic theory.

Attitudes

Enduring sets of beliefs or feelings about people, objects, or ideas that predispose individuals to respond in certain ways.

Learned Helplessness

A condition in which a person suffers from a sense of powerlessness, arising from a traumatic event or persistent failure to succeed, characterized by the belief that one's actions have no effect on outcomes.

Learned Optimism

The concept that one can develop a more positive outlook through cognitive behavioral techniques, as proposed by psychologist Martin Seligman.