Engaging Ideas

The need for faculty to teach writing and thinking in every course across the curriculum has never been more crucial. Fortunately, there is a book that can guide your efforts and contribute to your and your students' success.-From the Foreword by Maryellen Weimer Teaching for critical thinking, especially in a way that fosters student engagement and active learning, is even more important today than when the first edition of this best-selling classic was published. In this thoroughly revised and updated edition, John Bean offers a practical guide for designing writing and critical thinking activities and incorporating them into courses across all disciplines in ways that stimulate inquiry, exploration, discussion, and debate. In this second edition, Bean integrates recent pedagogical research, brings rhetorical theory to bear on writing in the disciplines, addresses quantitative and scientific literacy, advocates a new approach to the research paper, includes activities for online and blended learning environments, and offers new ideas for transformative assessment of student learning. Praise for the Second Edition The first edition of Engaging Ideas quickly became the 'faculty development bible'; believe it or not, this new edition is even better. Refreshed by current research, new practical examples, and theoretically sound pedagogical principles, this is a book for teachers of all subjects, regardless of level or institution. Faculty who dip into these engaging ideas will find dozens of ways to promote their students' success as thinkers and writers-and have fun doing so.-Carol Rutz, director of the Writing Program, Carleton College The book is both conceptually rich and wonderfully practical. Bean gives straightforward and concise advice for thinking through what writing means for students in any field of study, and instructors will continue to find this a primary guide to serious thinking about learning and teaching.-Dan Bernstein, director, Center for Teaching Excellence, University of Kansas