Course Requirements Overview
Please be aware that this course follows a belief in the value of socially constructed knowledge; that is, a belief that together we can make much better sense of the world around us than we can alone. For this reason, most writing done by students for this course will be shared with the entire class membership and, in many cases, with a potentially vast World Wide Web audience as well.
Course Requirements
Overview
Throughout your time in the CAL Program, you will be asked to read, write, think, and reflect on yourself as a Composition and Applied Linguistics Teacher Scholar. This course is part of beginning that important reflective journey of growth and development. You will hopefully identify key themes, issues, and ideas in this course that you will want to return to in your other CAL courses. That’s good and to be expected. Please just be careful to always produce new writing for each course you take so that you get the most out of each course experience. Whenever you find yourself on familiar ground, select a new aspect of that terrain to research and study. When you draw from the story of your past experiences as a teacher and a student, as you often will, work to see that story with fresh eyes. And, this is important, enjoy the journey.
Your Teaching Vision Statement (10% of final course grade)
- Write a statement of your vision for teaching composition.
- Your Vision Statement should be 1 page in length.
- Your Vision Statement should be in a 12 point font, single-spaced.
- Please use paragraph breaks or, even better, headings for your key ideas.
Your Teacher Story (20% of final course grade)
- Write a story/stories that explains the origins of your vision for teaching composition.
- Your Teacher Story should be 4-6 pages in length.
- Your Teacher Story should be in a 12 point font, double-spaced.
Your Theory of Teaching Article (40% of final course grade)
- Select a theory that supports your vision for teaching composition.
- Write an explanation of this theory and explain how the theory can be used to justify your approach to teaching. Then link this theory to some sort of teaching application.
- Your Theory of Teaching Article should be 12-15 pages in length.
- Your Theory of Teaching Article should be in a 12 point font, double-spaced.
- Please use paragraph breaks or, even better, headings for key ideas.
- Your Theory of Teaching Article should include several appropriate references.
Attendance and Course Tasks (10% of final course grade)
Constant class attendance and active class participation is required of all students. During our various class sessions, we will work on a variety of small course tasks. Please note that one one especially important course task is completing assigned readings. More detailed information about attendance requirements can be found here:
- Course Attendance Policies