Policy Statement

Goals of ENGL 805:

Practicum provides an introduction to the KSU Expository Writing Program, our curriculum and methods. Our work is aimed at fostering your development as teachers.

Over the course of the next two years you will be:

Goals of ENGL 805 (Spring 2004):

• Practicing tools and strategies to help students do their best work
  
• Planning and pacing of instruction
  
• Modeling student-based classroom activities
  
• Attention to multiple learning styles
  
• Grading calibration according to portfolio standards
  
• Mastering the curriculum to meet Student Learning Outcomes for Expos 2
  
  • Be able to identify and evaluate components of an explicit argument
    
    • Claims and audience-based reasons
      
    • Evidence
      
    • Underlying assumptions (warrants)
      
    • Opposing Views
      
  • Be able to construct an explicit argument using audience-based reasoning
    
  • Be able to select, integrate, and explain evidence for an explicit argument
    
  • Be able to locate, select, summarize, and integrate published sources into an explicit argument
    

Your responsibilities:

Each semester/year

• Provide a copy of your policy statement and course plan
• Arrange for your class to be observed
  • Be observed by a teaching advisor
  • Observe one of your colleagues; write observation report using samples for format.
• Have a file-review conference with an advisor
  • Compile one set of graded essays (including all student's revisions, preferably with your comments on both an early and a revised draft)

Long-term

• Assemble a teaching/professional portfolio
  • Compose a C.V. and statement of teaching philosophy (STP)
  • Collect a variety of materials for your teaching portfolio
• With a group, demonstrate a teaching strategy or classroom activity to first-year teachers
• Provide sample essays (A-F) for grading sessions

Ongoing

• Attend all meetings
  • If illness or an unavoidable conflict prevents you from attending a meeting, please give one of us a written explanation of your absence. Chronic absence will be noted in your departmental teaching file.

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Schedule of Classes (1st Year GTAs)

Week	Date	Topic
1	Jan. 21	Preparation for Spring Semester; Components of Argument Preparation: Read Chapter 4 (75-87) and Chapter 5 (88-106); complete #5 & #6 for exercise on p.91 and exercise on p.100. Bring two copies of your policy statement for spring semester.
2	Jan. 26	Components of Argument , cont'd. Preparing to Teach Paper #1: Evaluation Arguments Preparation: Review Chapters 4 and 5 and reponses for excerises on p.91 and p.100. Bring questions about introducting students to Expos 2 curriculum and about teaching Toulmin.
3	Wednesday, Feb. 4 at 3:30 pm	(In place of snow day on Monday, Feb. 2nd) Assessing and Grading Paper #1 (Evaluation Essay)
4	Feb. 9	Introducing and Planning for Paper #2 (Proposal Essay) Preparation: Review Chapter 7 and Chapter 14; review response to #2 from exercise on p.107. Read pp.81-84 and pp.87-91 in EW 200. Read pp.83-98 in EW200 & "Table of Contents" to Writing Arguments for the "Anthology of Arguments" (xxi-xxxiii) Assessing Paper #2 (Proposal Essay) Introducing and Planning for Paper #3 (Debate Essay) Schedule of classes due.
5	Feb. 16	Assessing and Grading Paper #2 (Proposal Essay) Teaching the Paper #3 (Debate Essay) Presentation by 2nd Year GTAs on Grading for Two Sections of Expos Preparation: Read, assess with grading rubric, and grade the Prairie Lights Proposal "Rise and Shine, It's Breakfast Time" (19-21). Review Researched Debate Essay in EW 200 (96-98). Read selections from "Marriage and Family in the New Millennium" (WA 576-605), and develop a working thesis claim for each reading's argument.
6	Feb. 23	Assessing and Grading Paper #3 (Debate Essay) Introducing and Planning for Paper #4 (Persuasive Research Essay) Preparation: Lesson planning for teaching a research paper: respond to the following three questions: What concerns/questions do you have as you prepare to teach a research paper again? What is one thing you plan to do again? What is one thing you plan to do differently?
7	March 1	Teaching Development through Revision Preparation: Develop an in-class activity which would help students develop their Proposal Essays or their Debate Essays
8	March 8	Preparing for Midterm Portfolio Assessment Survey
9	March 15	Read Midterm Portfolios
--	March 22	No Meeting -- Spring Break
10	March 29	Developing Debate Essays Finding the Right Focus: Topics for Research Papers
11	April 5	Lesson Planning Preparation: No preparation.
12	April 12	Assessing and Grading Paper #4 (Persuasive Research Essay) Evaluating and Integrating Sources Preparation: Read "Reality Check for No-Child Left Behind" (PL 25-27) Review "Persuasive Research" grading rubric (EW 200 110) Review Workshop guides (EW 200 106-109)
13	April 19	Introducing and Planning for Paper #5 (Letter to the Portfolio Reader) Preparation: Review assignment and resources for "Letter to the Portfolio Reader" (EW200 122-125) Review alternate assignment "The Self-Evaluation Essay" (posted with online "Teaching Resources for Expos 2")
14	April 26	Assessing and Grading of Paper #5 (Letter to the Portfolio Reader) Preparation: No preparation.
15	May 3	No Meeting
16	May 10	Preparation for Final Portfolio Grading Session
	May 17	Read Final Portfolios

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Email: westmank@ksu.edu

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Last updated 25 April 2004