Student essays included in textbook

Essays by seven Northwestern College students—some of whom are now alumni—have been published as instructive samples of student writing in the fourth edition of The College Writer, an English textbook published in January by Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

“Dutch Discord” by senior Brittany Korver, Orange City, analyzes how the influx of Muslim residents in the Netherlands is affecting the country’s identity and culture. She wrote the essay for Dr. Dan Young’s course in cultural geography.

Korver also contributed to a collaborative essay, “The Effects of the Eastern Red Cedar on Seedlings and Implications for Allelopathy,” an experiment report written for an ecology class taught by Drs. Laurie Furlong and Todd Tracy. Teaming with Korver were writers Dana Kleckner ’09, Van Meter, Iowa; senior Nicolette (Storm) Bracy, Sanborn; and junior Adam Verhoef, Pella.

Senior Aleah Stenberg, Big Lake, Minn., wrote “Ah, the Power of Women” about portrayals of women in Louise Erdrich’s novel Love Medicine for Professor Deb Menning’s literature class.

Renee (Nyhof ’10) Wielenga, Sioux Center, wrote “Dream Act May Help Local Student Fight for Residency” for an advanced writing class taught by former professor Carl Vandermeulen; her persuasive essay argues for passage of legislation that would aid immigrant teens.

Kathleen Kropp ’10, Fort Collins, Colo., contributed “Latin American Music: A Diverse and Unifying Force,” which she wrote for a Latin American culture class taught by Dr. Mike Yoder.

The College Writer, edited by Randall VanderMey, Verne Meyer, John Van Rys and Pat Sebranek, is used in college and university composition classrooms across the U.S.

Northwestern students received royalty payments for their essays, which are included in chapters that explain different categories of essay writing: “Cause and Effect,” “Classification,” “Taking a Position,” “Proposing a Solution,” and “Lab, Experiment or Field Report.”