“But the skill I am most grateful for learning this year,* is how to write a thesis statement. In the past, I had learned what it was, but had no knowledge of how to write a good one with the required elements.”1
WASC Self-Study
Writing WASC Self-Study Report: Committee Chair
The Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges, better known as WASC, is the body that is responsible for overseeing the formal accreditation process for schools in a group of western states.
As Chair of Daniel Pearl Magnet High Schools’ WASC Committee, Mr. Viskanta shepherded the writing of the report in preparation for the first full accreditation visit during the 2012-2013 school year at the newly formed independent school. The extensive and detailed report is an example of group technical document authorship, where a wide range of text required collating and integration so as to be authored with a single narrative voice. This required supporting the staff in organizing information from different departments and overseeing the preparation of text in a style and format required by the organization. The self-study process enables “institutions to engage in a rigorous and relevant self-evaluation and peer review process that focuses on student learning” (Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges, n.d.). As the report was the first such document for the school, drafting the document required collaborative foundational decisions about how to organize what is a narrative about the educational institution told through data, statistics, and community experience.
The WASC Committee, which visited the school in February of 2013, granted Daniel Pearl Magnet full six-year accredited status in their follow-up report with a standard midterm review, successfully cementing the difficult work of a passionate and committed small school staff.
Accrediting Commission for Schools Western Association of Schools and Colleges. (n.d.). ACS WASC Overview. https://www.acswasc.org/about/acs-wasc-overview/
Downloads
This draft of the Daniel Pearl Magnet WASC Report in preparation for the visit in February of 2013 is a copy of the final document before its final packaging process (cover page, hard copies placed in binders). After this final stage of preparation it was then sent to committee members for their review before their official visit to the school.
Testimonials
“I improved in reading comprehension and actually understanding what I was reading because I had many different sources and way* to understand the book, that really helped me. … Mr. Viskanta really seeked* out to help everyone understand everything and make sure no one was lost and I really appreciate that. “1
SA 2014
“This semester I have learned many things. For example, I have learned how to read books by William Shakespeare. … I also learned how to read between the lines. Often times, authors put hidden meanings in their places. Ive* learned to look deep into whatever im reading now instead of just taking everything at face value.”1
TM 2014
“I try to practice mindfulness at the beginning of the class to support my thinking and my quantity* of work. But, I have also use my mindfulness outside of class, when I have to deal with problems at my house.”1
CD 2016
“I really liked the books that we read* they really caught my attention. I also really liked what the stories were about.”1
SC 2016
“What I learned in this class is that I learned to be more patient especially on writing essays which is one of my weaknesses. But I was able to overcome it because I know in myself that I can do it, and because of your help.”1
QA 2016
“One thing I learned in this class is how to start a good paragraph. To start a good paragraph, you need to gather evidence first, then have a topic sentence, and a main idea.”1