Course Goals
This is a graduate seminar which will demand a high commitment from you as a student. If you want to do well in this course, I expect you to:
- Grow as a scholar
- Work hard
- Speak regularly in class
- Do all the work assigned
- Attend class
- Try your best
- Work well with others
- Keep an open mind
- Be courteous
- Improve yourself as a teacher
- Learn as much as you can
- Have some fun
Graduate students who meet all these very basic expectations will do well in this course.
Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLO’s)
By the time students complete English 833: Theories of Composition, they will have gained the ability to:
- Evaluate a range of composition theories to determine which would be best for teaching writing to the students at your institution.
- Construct a plan for teaching a specific population of student writers that draws upon the most applicable composition theory.
- Create a position statement that synthesizes contemporary composition theories to defend your approach to teaching writing.
Plan for Assessing Course Student Learning Outcomes
- Theory Evaluation (aligned with Learning Outcome 1):
- Students will write a series of short reading responses evaluating five different composition theories, culminating in a final reflection identifying the most suitable theory for the institution’s students.
- Teaching Plan (aligned with Learning Outcome 2):
- Students write a detailed paper applying the chosen composition theory to develop a teaching plan for a student population at a specific institution.
- Position Statement (aligned with Learning Outcome 3):
- Students will write a concise position statement synthesizing contemporary composition theories to articulate and defend their personal approach to teaching writing.