Teaching Artifacts

Course Design Overview and Justification

English 1101 Course Description

General Information:

English 1101 focuses on skills required for effective writing in a variety of contexts, with emphasis on exposition, analysis, and argumentation. Also includes introductory use of a variety of research skills.

Extra Details:

“The truth about stories is that’s all we are.” - Thomas King

Our words hold the power to link us all. Through our language and communicative abilities not just as learners but as human beings, we can form connections to voices across time, across disciplines, and across mediums. In this “Decades” themed English composition class, you will explore the power of narrative storytelling, rhetorical communication, argumentation, and finding your creative voices by understanding the ways that texts and images of the past and present influence each of our own words, thoughts, and interactions. As a class, we will take opportunities to understand and analyze mediums within pop culture—such as animation and film promotional materials. We will explore the ways that writing is involved in all forms of media, and you will have the opportunity to craft collaborative digital and print-based writing pieces that are in conversation with other valuable writings and topics.

Theoretical Justification

Two through lines across my pedagogical writing practices so far have been that “writing [is] an ever-communicative tool” and “failure is a necessary and helpful part of learning” (taken from my teaching philosophy). Threshold Concepts 1.0–-Writing is a Social and Rhetorical Activity–-and 4.0–-All Writers Have More to Learn–-inform and inspire these beliefs. I have made the effort to scaffold several revision opportunities into my course, and I find that workshops, peer reviews, active learning and discussion, and reflection support both of these beliefs within my course design plan. These social and process-based opportunities are the backbone of my class because I want to help students look at writing as a way to connect and grow, which are two ideas also present in the “Decades” theming of my course. I believe these small classroom moments, teachings, and connections can help students become not only better learners and writers but also more open and engaged individuals. 

Course and Assignment Design Proposal Slides (Includes Scaffolding)