Rebecca Irwin
Biology

My name is Rebecca Irwin; I teach biology, including upper division courses in ecology and evolution, some sections of the senior seminar course, and introductory biology. Information on the courses I teach, brief statements of the writing assignments involved in my courses, is linked to my home page.

I'm generally interested in the use of writing in teaching. Aspects of the use of writing that I've thought about and/or tried include:

• the importance of having students read materials, especially materials written in the writing style they need to use, to allow them to learn to write.
• ways of encouraging (or requiring) students write down explanations of complex material, in their own words, to help them understand the material.
• teaching technical/ scientific writing while understanding the similarities and differences in expected writing styles between the different courses students are taking.
• ways of requiring writing that avoid overloading me with grading and that avoid bogging the students down with what they perceive as "busy work."

If you'd like to talk to me, learn about what I do in these or other areas, please e-mail me at rirwin@utm.edu.