Education Commons^™

Authentic For Whom?: An Interview Study Of Desired Writing Practices For African American Adolescent Learners, Gholnecsar E. Muhammad Phd, Nadia Behizadeh Phd

Middle Grades Review

Across theory, research, and learning standards, there is a clear call for authentic writing experiences to increase achievement and engagement. According to theories of authenticity that stress its subjective nature, a writing task is authentic when a student perceives it as relevant to the real world—as they define the real world. Moreover, there is a need for authentic writing in classrooms that connects to increased student engagement, but the reality of writing instruction across schools in the United States remains rote and teacher-centered. These narrowed views and perspectives are further exacerbated when it comes to teaching African American youth in …