English 405 (1): Teaching Composition
Tues. 2:30-5:00 (W)
Instructor: Georganne Nordstrom
This course works as a practicum in that it involves both course work and working as a writing consultant—students will have an opportunity to implement the theories they learn about producing, teaching, and supporting writing through interactions with writers from across the UHM campus. In addition to attending class each week, students will work several hours each week in the UHM Writing Center through which they will gain actual tutoring experience. The course will begin by exploring the evolution of theories about teaching writing over the last several decades and tracing how those theories have impacted how we work with writers as tutors. Understanding writing as a process and the practices to support writing, for both the students who take the class and those they work with in the writing center, will be a central theme. Readings and discussions will address practical approaches for engaging at all stages of the writing process, including invention, organization, and style, as well as working with different kinds of learners, genres, and disciplines. The complex teacher/tutor/student relationship and corresponding issues of authority and agency will also be a focus as students identify their own pedagogical stance in the teaching/tutoring dynamic. Throughout the semester, we will draw connections between tutoring writing in a one-on-one interaction and teaching writing in a classroom setting. Underpinning all these discussions will be attention to the specific place we write in; the students we work with at UHM and their individual approaches, strengths, and challenges in terms of writing practices; and how our own center has evolved in response to our students and the place in which it exists.
Because this course involves a 5 hour/wk paid tutoring position, students need to be nominated and apply to enroll. For more information on how to apply, please contact Dr. Georganne Nordstrom at georgann@hawaii.edu
Tentative Assignments:
Journal: Readings, Interactions, & Tutoring
5-7 page mid-term literature review on a specific topic
10-page final paper that, drawing from the tutoring log(and literature review), situates/critiques tutoring practices employed within both composition and writing center theory
An in-class teaching demo that involves conducting an activity with the class
Required Texts:
All readings will be provided digitally (either in pdf or through ebook), and will include a mix of foundational texts tracing Writing Center history, and current publications on contemporary concerns and practices as well as conducting research.