Research & Writing

Millman_Literacy Autobiography.docx

Writing 1 (Autobiography)

Bibliophile: From Love Came Love

Challenge

In an education certification course, a personal narrative was assigned that explores a meaningful literacy experience. The objective was to reflect on how this experience shaped development as readers, writers, or educators, using vivid detail and storytelling to connect memory with broader themes of learning and identity.

Rationale

This personal narrative reflects on the quiet but lasting ways a love of reading was passed down to me and how it shaped my growth as both a writer and a teacher. What began as bedtime stories with my mother evolved into a lifelong relationship with books that provided comfort, sparked curiosity, and helped shape my voice. In writing this piece, I wanted to honor the emotional richness of those early experiences while also exploring how literacy can be a foundation for identity and human connection. This story highlights my belief in the transformative power of storytelling and the role it plays in my development as a scholar and educator.

Millman_Needs_Assessment_Tool_Final.docx

Writing 2 (Research/Practical)

Designing a Needs Assessment Tool for English Language Learners in a Portuguese University English Learning Program

Challenge

Design a comprehensive needs assessment tool for English language learners enrolled in a university’s English program. This involved creating a questionnaire and follow-up interview questions to gather detailed information about students’ linguistic abilities, motivations, learning preferences, anxiety levels, and goals. The aim was to use this data to inform curriculum design that is responsive to the diverse needs of the student population.

Rationale

This sample presents the design of a needs assessment tool tailored for English language learners in a Portuguese university setting, aimed at informing responsive and effective curriculum development. It highlights my skills by integrating current research on learner motivation, anxiety, and diverse educational backgrounds to create a comprehensive instrument that captures linguistic competencies, learning preferences, and personal goals. The work demonstrates my ability to synthesize theory and empirical studies with practical application, emphasizing culturally responsive pedagogy and student-centered curriculum design. Through this project, I show a commitment to fostering inclusive learning environments that address the complex realities of multilingual learners and support their academic and professional growth.

Millman_Literacy Sponsors Project.pdf

Writing 3 (Narrative/Research)

Chasing Literacy

Challenge

To interview a family member, friend, or colleague about their literacy history and compare it to our own, using concepts like Deborah Brandt’s “sponsors of literacy” to explore how cultural, historical, and social forces shape literacy practices. The goal was to deepen our awareness of how individual experiences with reading and writing are influenced by broader systems, and how this understanding informs culturally responsive teaching.

Rationale

This sample, “Chasing Literacy,” presents an in-depth narrative interview with a veteran English Language Arts teacher, exploring her lifelong relationship with reading and writing and how her personal experiences shaped her teaching philosophy. The piece highlights my skills in qualitative research, narrative inquiry, and reflective writing by capturing the complexity of literacy development through the concept of literacy sponsorship and educational theory. It demonstrates my ability to blend personal storytelling with academic ideas to illuminate the real experiences of educators, while showcasing my experience with digital design principles while effectively using space, tones, and a visual hierarchy.

Millman ENG 501 Final Paper.docx

Writing 4 (Research Proposal)

Seeing Ourselves in School: The Power of Representation in Education

Challenge

Develop a research proposal that explores an issue in education you find meaningful, making a clear case for why it matters and how you plan to approach it.

Rationale

This research proposal explores how the underrepresentation of black students in educational materials can impact their engagement, sense of belonging, and academic achievement. It reflects my ability to think critically about systemic issues in education and design meaningful, well-supported research. By connecting theory to real-world challenges, the project shows my strengths in thoughtful analysis, clear communication, and a commitment to creating more inclusive learning environments.

New_Headway_Curriculum_Analysis_Millman_Seth.docx

Writing 5 (Analysis)

An Evaluation of the New Headway Curriculum: Analyzing Design and Effectiveness in L2 Education

Challenge

Select an existing L2 curriculum and evaluate its quality using the curriculum design model from the course. Analysis should clearly apply concepts from the LIN524 textbook to assess how well the curriculum fits its context, meets learner needs, and reflects principles of effective language instruction.

Rationale

This curriculum evaluation reflects my ability to critically assess instructional materials through a research-based and pedagogically informed approach. By analyzing the widely used New Headway series within the framework of a curriculum design model, I examined its effectiveness in addressing learner needs, supporting second language acquisition, and aligning with contemporary educational standards. The project demonstrates my strengths in synthesizing research, applying theoretical models to real-world contexts, and producing clear, academically grounded analysis.

Millman_ Mini-Lesson Poet X.docx

Writing 6 (Reflective)

Mini-Lesson: Poet X

Challenge

Design a lesson plan or mini-lesson grounded in a selected young adult literature text, using it as a vehicle to explore a specific ELA concept, theme, or skill. Accompany the lesson with a brief reflective commentary analyzing the literary text’s pedagogical value, relevance, and potential for classroom use.

Rationale

This sample lesson plan demonstrates my ability to design thoughtful, standards-aligned instruction that is both responsive to diverse learners and grounded in meaningful literary engagement. Centered on The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, the lesson reflects my commitment to culturally relevant pedagogy, student-centered learning, and the integration of poetry to foster critical thinking, identity exploration, and textual analysis. My reflection reveals an educator who values inclusive teaching practices, multimodal engagement, and the transformative potential of literature in adolescent development. These are hallmarks of my growth as a scholar, teacher, and reflective practitioner.

Millman Feminism Through Magical Realism.docx

Writing 7 (Comparative Literary Analysis)

Feminism Through Magical Realism

Challenge

Compare two course texts that use magical realism to explore a social or cultural issue of your choice, developing a focused argument about how the genre shapes their representation. Support your analysis with close readings and at least two scholarly sources.

Rationale

This sample shows my ability to explore complex literary themes through a comparative analysis of magical realism in Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits and Ana Castillo’s So Far from God. It highlights my skills as a thoughtful reader and writer by combining evidence from the texts with scholarly sources to examine different feminist perspectives within diverse cultural settings. The analysis also demonstrates how I can explain the ways literary devices like magical realism not only enrich the stories but also bring attention to important social and cultural issues, showing how literature can be a powerful tool for exploring themes of gender, identity, and resistance.

Millman ENG507 Final.docx

Writing 8 (Analytical)

Instructional Unit Design

Challenge

Design a brief approximately four-week instructional writing unit on a topic developed in this course excluding literature or novel based topics that includes a unit introduction grounded in course readings, a final assignment sheet, two detailed lesson plans with supporting materials and a properly formatted Works Cited page.

Rationale

This sample presents a comprehensive four-week instructional unit designed to engage 8th-grade students in a real-world advertising campaign project, emphasizing persuasive writing, multimodal communication, research skills, and ethical considerations. It highlights my ability to integrate theory from key course readings into practical, authentic assignments that develop students’ critical thinking and professional communication skills across multiple modes, while fostering collaboration and ethical awareness in media literacy. It also demonstrates my ability to draft original companion piece slide decks and student work.

Romulus_Cycle 3_Charmaine.docx

Writing 9 (Analysis)

Pen Pal Feedback: Charmane

Challenge

Transcribe the inmate’s work exactly as written, then provide specific, respectful feedback that highlights strengths and offers clear, gentle suggestions for improving the writing’s clarity, impact, and audience connection.

Rationale

This feedback reflects my strengths as a careful and empathetic reader who recognizes the narrative’s visceral impact and emotional authenticity while offering constructive critique to deepen the writer’s voice. It shows my ability to connect personal storytelling to broader systemic issues such as medical neglect and institutional failure. As a teacher, it highlights my commitment to fostering student growth through balanced encouragement and specific guidance on pacing, introspection, and narrative focus, helping writers sharpen both the emotional resonance and clarity of their work regardless of their writing level or age.

Millman_Print Press Lesson.docx

Writing 10 (Reflective Professional)

Linguistic Evolution Through the Printing Press

Challenge

Develop an authentic lesson/writing prompt that connects linguistic concepts to journalism, encouraging students to explore how technological limitations impacted language and language evolution impacts journalistic writing and communication.

Rationale

This lesson plan demonstrates how I connect linguistics and journalism in a way that gets 8th graders thinking about how language has changed over time. It highlights my ability to create meaningful activities that help students build critical thinking and media literacy skills. I also focus on making sure the lesson works for all kinds of learners, including English Language Learners and students with different needs. Overall, it reflects my passion for teaching language in a way that is both engaging and accessible. Upon completing this assignment, I successfully implemented it into my journalism class.