Discovering Competence in Facts, Artifacts, and Counterfacts

Both books, The Discovery of Competence and Facts, Artifacts and Counterfacts present similar alternatives to the traditional remedial course. The courses cater to creating students who learn through the process of writing about meaningful, interesting subjects. The authors agree on the importance of bringing students into the academic discourse community through topics that engage their curiosity, but DoC focuses on more theoretical aspects of the course while FAC outlines the course in practical terms.

FAC uses autobiography to engage students schema in the course topic, "Growth and Change in Adolescence." DoC might suggest a different course topic, one that does not rely on students' personal experiences to engage their interest. Both books stress constant and meaningful teacher feedback and the use of a portfolio as assessment. However, the big ticket issue the authors may have with each other rests in in-class writing tests. While FAC defends their use of in-class, timed writing as preparing students for real academic rigour, DoC shies away from such pressured writing. Instead, DoC focuses solely on developing students who have time and opportunity to try our different writing techniques.