Chapter 1 Response

The first chapter focused on exactly what service learning is and how to incorporate a service learning into a writing class. I was skeptical at first as to how that would work but I definitely understand it much better now.

I did service learning in high school but what we had to do was very similar to the first approach described in the chapter. We had to volunteer then write reflectively about it after the fact. In this class I think we are doing the third approach, the Stanford model.

The descriptions of the three different models of service learning were very helpful. It helped me understand the difference between what is expected in this course as far as service learning and what I did in high school for service learning. Also, the example about the zoo project helped to clarify the third model.

What I had a hard time understanding was how we can provide a writing service to an organization. The examples helped but I think I need more of an explanation, or perhaps just more examples, to fully understand this.

Overall the first chapter was very helpful and pretty much cleared up all the initial questions and concerns that I had. I'm sure as I read more in the book it will give a more precise and clear explanation of what the Stanford model is.