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It's Not a Neutral Choice: Implications of Student Self-Placement in a Basic Writing Course

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Title: It's Not a Neutral Choice: Implications of Student Self-Placement in a Basic Writing Course
Language: English
Authors: Jennifer Burke Reifman
Source: Journal of Basic Writing. 2025 44(1):37-68.
Availability: Journal of Basic Writing. Available from: Sheridan Press. 450 Fame Avenue, Hanover, PA 17331. Tel: 717-632-3535; Fax: 717-633-8920; e-mail: pubsvc.tsp@sheridan.com; Web site: https://wac.colostate.edu/jbw
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 32
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Student Placement, Basic Writing, Self Concept, Writing (Composition), Decision Making, Undergraduate Students, Freshman Composition, Student Attitudes, Social Bias, Essays
Geographic Terms: California
DOI: 10.37514/JBW-J.2025.44.1.03
ISSN: 0147-1635
Abstract: Research has indicated that students experience negative reactions to their placement in a basic writing course. Despite negative disposition toward basic writing, self-placement practices have become commonplace in higher education for advancing equity. Using the concept of "Possible Academic Selves," this article examines student writing produced in a placement process to challenge the neutrality of self-placement into a basic writing course. As statistical and textual analysis of student writing reveals, placement in a basic writing course could be viewed as a disruption to a student's Possible Academic Self, or the student they imagined they would be in college. Analyzing student placement challenge writing in this light, as well as considering the long history of the basic writer as "other," reveals the disruptions that can occur to a student's sense of self, complicating the nature of writing placement processes that rely on students to make choices about their own course placement.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1490378
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Journal of Basic Writing. Available from: Sheridan Press. 450 Fame Avenue, Hanover, PA 17331. Tel: 717-632-3535; Fax: 717-633-8920; e-mail: pubsvc.tsp@sheridan.com; Web site: https://wac.colostate.edu/jbw
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Placement%22">Student Placement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Basic+Writing%22">Basic Writing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Concept%22">Self Concept</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+%28Composition%29%22">Writing (Composition)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+Making%22">Decision Making</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Freshman+Composition%22">Freshman Composition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Bias%22">Social Bias</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Essays%22">Essays</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22California%22">California</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.37514/JBW-J.2025.44.1.03
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  Data: Research has indicated that students experience negative reactions to their placement in a basic writing course. Despite negative disposition toward basic writing, self-placement practices have become commonplace in higher education for advancing equity. Using the concept of "Possible Academic Selves," this article examines student writing produced in a placement process to challenge the neutrality of self-placement into a basic writing course. As statistical and textual analysis of student writing reveals, placement in a basic writing course could be viewed as a disruption to a student's Possible Academic Self, or the student they imagined they would be in college. Analyzing student placement challenge writing in this light, as well as considering the long history of the basic writer as "other," reveals the disruptions that can occur to a student's sense of self, complicating the nature of writing placement processes that rely on students to make choices about their own course placement.
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      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 32
        StartPage: 37
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Student Placement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Basic Writing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Concept
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Writing (Composition)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Decision Making
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      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
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      – SubjectFull: Freshman Composition
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      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
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      – SubjectFull: Social Bias
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      – SubjectFull: Essays
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      – SubjectFull: California
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      – TitleFull: It's Not a Neutral Choice: Implications of Student Self-Placement in a Basic Writing Course
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