The How Arguments Work Student Contribution Contest
An Open Pedagogy Project
An Invitation to Students
Would you like to offer your own perspective to improve a writing textbook for other college students? We believe student feedback and contributions can make How Arguments Work: A Guide to Writing and Analyzing Texts in College an even better guide.
We are pleased to announce the 2022 How Arguments Work Student Contribution Contest! This contest offers cash prizes and/or certificates of recognition to all college students who submit contributions or suggestions responding to some part of the textbook How Arguments Work: A Guide to Writing and Analyzing Texts in College.
Prompt
How can the textbook How Arguments Work: A Guide to Writing and Analyzing Texts in College be better? Describe a suggested change or create original content, such as an original example or video, that could be added to the text.
Prizes and Recognition
One $100 prize, two $50 prizes, and six $25 prizes (as Amazon gift cards)
A Certificate of Recognition for Editorial Contribution for all participants
Recognition on the textbook's Student Editorial Contributors page
Participants may want to add a line to their resumes such as "Recognized for an editorial contribution to the writing textbook How Arguments Work."
Ideas for Contributions
New Content
Give an example of a concept described in the book which helps to make that concept more relatable or understandable (and appealing/interesting/relevant to students).
Give directions for a practice exercise that could be incorporated into the book.
Share an original sample essay they are willing to include in the textbook that illustrates a textbook concept.
Create and link to a video explanation of a concept from the book or an example of a concept.
Constructive Feedback
Give an alternate or critical perspective to a claim the book presents.
Ask a question that will lead toward clarification of an important concept. This includes identifying writing in the book that is ambiguous or confusing and explaining why it was confusing.
Suggest a strategy that will help students use the skills described in the text, perhaps overcoming an emotional, intellectual, or logistical barrier.
Respond thoughtfully and constructively to one of the public annotations already posted.
Note: We appreciate any proofreading notes for grammar, formatting consistency, and accessibility. These will not qualify for monetary awards, but they will certainly merit a certificate of recognition for the editorial contribution.
Criteria for Awards
Submissions will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
Does the submission give a thoughtful response to existing content in the textbook?
Does the submission help readers understand and/or apply a concept in the textbook?
Does the submission lead to a valuable clarification of or addition to the content of the textbook?
About the Textbook
How Arguments Work has been used at 45 colleges and has received positive reviews from instructors posting on the Open Textbook Library, Merlot, and OER Commons as well as from six anonymous academic peer reviewers. The book has received over 250,000 pageviews, and some 170 instructors have downloaded its Learning Management System resources on Canvas Commons.
“I've been using your text for almost a year now, and I think it's fantastic."--Susan Stafinbil, Arapahoe Community College. See more praise from teachers and students.
For an overview of the textbook’s approach, see the ASCCC OERI webinar “How Arguments Work: Inside an OER Text for Composition and Rhetoric” or the Young Rhetoricians conference presentation "OER for Equity: Critical Pedagogy with an Open Writing Textbook."
Purpose of the Contest
Our hope is that this contest can
enhance students’ learning experience in writing courses this semester
encourage students to see the value of their own reflections and contributions for other students beyond their class
help the textbook authors and editors improve How Arguments Work
add examples that make it more relevant and engaging for future students.