Category Archives: Teaching Composition

conferencing with students

Posted on January 25, 2008 by Michael

Yesterday I put myself through hell, scheduling 27 20-minute conferences with students (4 didn’t show up), and come 6:30 when I finished, I was exhausted. Today, I have considerably fewer, though I also teach two classes today. However, I’m currently … Continue reading →

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real rhetorical situations

Posted on November 20, 2007 by Michael

JoAnne Podis and Leonard Podis have a pretty good article in the recent College English about in loco parentis. Overall I found it pretty interesting (and it made me think a bit about how I structure assignments and reflect more … Continue reading →

Posted in Teaching Composition | 1 Comment

This I believe audio essays

Posted on November 8, 2007 by Michael

When I taught first-year writing, I wanted students to write a “This I Believe” essay, but the length was too short to use for one of the major assignments, and instead we did “My Turn” essays, which in retrospect, I … Continue reading →

Posted in New Media, Teaching Composition, Voice | 3 Comments

the obligatory male handshake

Posted on October 29, 2007 by Michael

I’ve noticed a strange phenomenon with many of male students. Many of them like to shake my hand after the conference, which I’m okay with, but I’m a bit surprised by. I don’t remember ever shaking a teacher’s hand when … Continue reading →

Posted in Conferences with Students, WR214: Writing in Business | 8 Comments

take 20

Posted on October 21, 2007 by Michael

Today I took a break from reading my students’ job search memos and good news letters to finally watch Take 20, which I thought was a great film. One of the questions they asked the composition scholars in the film … Continue reading →

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