Congruence and Misrecognition: A Case Study of Teaching Assistants' Perceived Commentary Roles and Actual Commentary Practices in First-Year English

Date

2004-05

Authors

McCracken, Ila Moriah

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Abstract

In this study, I use qualitative research methods—semi-structured interviews and artifact analysis—to analyze the perceived commentary roles and actual commentary practices of five teaching assistants at my university. My study reveals two categories of TA commentary roles and practices: congruence and misrecognition. Teaching assistants demonstrate congruence between their perceived roles and actual practices when they do what they say they do when commenting on students’ texts. Teaching assistants demonstrate a misrecognition between their perceived roles and actual practices when they say they do one thing but they do another when commenting on texts. This research study reveals that as inexperienced teachers, TAs should be exposed to direct, individual specific research on commentary roles and practices because the TAs are not cognizant of their own congruence or misrecognition.

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Keywords

graduate teaching assistants, communication in education, teacher-student relationships

Citation

McCracken, I. M. (2004). Congruence and misrecognition: A case study of teaching assistants' perceived commentary roles and actual commentary practices in first-year English (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University-San Marcos, San Marcos, Texas.

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