Category: Pedagogy

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The Joys Of Assigning Unessay Projects in Class

At least once a year, I assign an unessay project and essay in my classes. I’ve written about this numerous times, and while I am always nervous about what the students will produce, because fear and apprehension keep them from really leaning into the project, I end up standing in awe at what the students end up producing for their unessay project. Last semester, I … Read More The Joys Of Assigning Unessay Projects in Class

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“What is an American?”: Early American Literature Course Syllabus

It has been a few years since I have taught an American literature course from colonialism to 1865. This semester, I am doing just that, and I am again thinking about the ways that I structure this course. I have always organized this course, and others, around conversations, taking Kenneth Burke’s “parlor metaphor” to heart that conversations continue onwards, ceaselessly, even when participants leave. … Read More “What is an American?”: Early American Literature Course Syllabus

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“Is it a racist story?”: Nate Powell’s “Cakewalk”

When I teach first year composition, I usually frame the course around personal narratives, allowing students to write about themselves. I find that this helps them get comfortable with writing and allows them to express themselves through their essays. As such, I try to choose at least one text that contains personal stories. This semester, I decided to add Nate Powell’s You Don’t Say, a collection … Read More “Is it a racist story?”: Nate Powell’s “Cakewalk”

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Comics in the Rhetoric and Composition Classroom

Every time I teach an introductory rhetoric and composition course, I struggle with what texts and assignments to do in the class. Last semester, I focused on personal memoirs, having students read Kathleen Hanna, Carrie Brownstein, Salman Rushdie, and oral interviews with individuals in Appalachia. I’ve also do Civil Rights memoirs. This semester, I’m doing comics, specifically having students look at some EC comics from the … Read More Comics in the Rhetoric and Composition Classroom

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American Literature (1865-present) Course

It has been a few years since I have taught an American literature survey course, either from the colonial period to 1865 or from 1865 to the present. When I teach survey courses likes this, ones that span multiple decades and centuries, I usually use an anthology. This semester, though, I wanted to try something different. Instead of using an anthology, which would limit … Read More American Literature (1865-present) Course