Composition Theory and the Teaching of Writing

3 credits

This course is designed to (1) prepare graduate students to teach introductory, college-level writing courses; (2) introduce students to central issues, problems, and theories in composition studies; and (3) encourage students to examine the interanimating relationship between critical theory, practical writing experience, and the teaching of Composition/Rhetoric. Though the emphasis is on central, nuts-and-bolts tasks in the teaching of writing (e.g., designing assignments; responding to student essays; selecting texts for discussion; etc.), this is not a prescriptive "how to" course; students are asked to consider pedagogical issues and choices in composition studies from a variety of personal and theoretical perspectives.