Gettin' Above Their Raisin's

Content Analysis

Confident and tentative are terms which Thomas Newkirk (1995) designated to describe the students in his study of writing conferences at the University of New Hampshire. For purposes of this study, confident designates confidence in writing, ability to handle assignments, and success in grades; tentative suggests an uncertain approach to writing, discomfort with writing assignments, and generally lower grades.

The literacy narratives of my students elicited themes that fell into three main categories: the influences of family, pre- and public school, and religion. (5)