For the research paper, Lecturer Sam Piccone recommends instructors use a baseline self-grading system with their students. A week before the final drafts for most of the major assignments are due, Sam will ask students to submit as complete of a first draft as they can manage, along with a copy of the assignment rubric … Continue reading Up Next in ENGL 250
Lecturer Katheryn Anderson has a creative exercise for preparing her students to give presentations. On presentation day, she always dedicates the first 15 minutes of class to warming up. “You would not jump on a treadmill for a run or start lifting weights without warming up your body first; the same should go for public … Continue reading Up Next in ENGL 150
The story of Jake Dawson’s start as a lecturer in the ISU English department is a whirlwind. In May 2014, he received an MFA in Creative Writing from NYU. He spent that summer living with his parents and applying to lecturer positions at 4-year institutions and community colleges, as well as academic advisor and writing … Continue reading Instructor Spotlight: Dawson Talks Problem Solving, Building Trust, and Ditching Perfection
Dear all, One of my dearest friends has a Ph.D. in assessment and measurement. Mine is in composition and rhetoric. One thing this means: when she was learning to create assessments, I was learning to critique them. We both care a great deal about student learning, but we don’t always agree on the best means … Continue reading Director’s Letter
Dear all, My most recent comfort show is The West Wing. Do you have comfort shows? You know, the programs you return to because the characters and storylines are familiar and hit whatever emotional note you need at a given time? The West Wing is comforting to me now because it’s full of smart people … Continue reading Director’s Letter
We would like to take the opportunity to recognize excellent student work! ENGL 150 and 250 instructors and students are invited to submit an example of work for the ISUComm Foundation Courses Student Showcase. Winners will receive a certificate, a $50 award, and recognition at the spring English Department Awards. Who is eligible? All English … Continue reading 150/250 Student Showcase Nominations Due April 7
What do you wish your students knew about you? Qi: I feel very happy when they reach out to me with questions or insights. Connor: While I teach composition, I am a creative writer who focuses on the genres of fiction, fantasy, fabulism, essays, and memoir. What one word would your students use … Continue reading New TA Q&A
February brought the 2023 Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC). The conference’s theme, Doing Hope in Desperate Times, was well reflected in the relief and joy of this gathering of scholars, teachers, and administrators. Despite the cold and lake-effect snow in Chicago, I was delighted to travel to a conference for the first time … Continue reading Dispatch from CCCC’s: Student support and familiar faces
As an alternative to the traditional research paper, CWE MFA candidate, Tara Labovich, teaches their students how to create zines. Zines are self-published, original works that include text and images. While zines have served many purposes over the decades, including identity development, storytelling or the sharing of art, the common thread among them is opposition … Continue reading Up Next in ENGL 250
To help students practice listening and explaining skills relating to multimodal design, try this quick activity that CWE MFA candidate Fred Johnson has used with his students. This activity will help students become more familiar with the identification and description of design elements, such as contrast, color, space, texture, etc. Pair students and tell one … Continue reading Up Next in ENGL 150