Teaching Philosophy
My pedagogy values scholar voices while simultaneously working to impart ways in which history shapes us through use of lectures, readings, writings, discussions, and videos.
Courses
SELECTED TEACHING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE
Graduate
Black in America: African American Writers (New Course)
We explore works by African American writers through fiction, non-fiction, film, drama, poetry, and song. Experience the works of Alice Dunbar Nelson*, James Weldon Johnson, Toni Morrison, Nafissa Thompson-Spires; Share in the creations of Lorraine Hansberry, Ava Duvernary, Misha Green, and Bryan Stevenson*; Connect with the artistry of Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Finney, Nnamdi Chukwuocha and Al Mills*, and Jericho Brown as they all depict lived experiences and interpret social, political, and cultural realities. Students complete a written midterm and develop a final project that will help advance their writing goals.
*Delawareans
Beyond Sight- Race and Rhetoric in Contemporary Times (New Course)
This course combined approaches to rhetorical theory, critical race theory, visual culture, and new media technologies to explore relationships between words and images for the Masters in Liberal Arts Program. We looked to images, magazine covers, pages and screens other people have designed, and figured out why (or why not) they succeed in doing what they set out to do.
Undergraduate - 100/300 Level Courses
Introduction to Professional Writing - In this course, students learn about what professional writers do on the job, and begin learning some of the core communication tools/proficiencies needed to be successful in your career path. The course balances core theories that drive and shape the discipline with hands-on practice and exercises.
Studies in Diversity: Formation -African American Women Writers (New Course) We explored African American women’s writing through fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry, and song. We experienced the powerful works of Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and Ntozake Shange. We also connected their texts with the artistry of Beyonce, Nina Simone, and Lauryn Hill as they all depict and interpret social, political, and cultural realities.
Rhetorics of Diversity: Toward Social Consciousness (New Course) - In this course, we examine the rhetorical strategies that activists, companies, and laypeople use to advocate and to implement socially conscious practices. Our readings not only introduced some foundational material about ethics and the function of diversity in workplaces, we also covered rhetorical theory.
Honors - Critical Reading and Writing – Race and Rhetoric - This course is designed to develop students’ academic writing, critical thinking, rhetorical strategies, and library skills. In addition, students will learn about race studies and think more critically about diversity in the workplace.
Seminar in Composition -This course is designed to develop students’ academic writing, critical thinking, rhetorical strategies, and library skills.
Undergraduate - 400/600 Level Courses
E-Portfolios (New Course) – In this course, students study professional portfolios, job market materials, and social media identity as genres while creating their own. They select and develop items for inclusion in a portfolio with a particular focus on critical reflection of work composed during their program of study. They also address rhetorical approaches to shaping the materials and look carefully at the work of others to offer feedback.
Internships in Writing Studies - This is a professional writing capstone where students work outside the classroom with a company or an organization to gain practical experience related to their English degree.
Rhetoric, Race, and Culture in Professional Contexts (Technical Writing) (New Course) - In this course, students learn about race studies (or the study of systemic issues), rhetorical theory, and culture (visual, oral, and written). By the end of the semester, students will consider the function of diversity in professional spaces and will become more familiar with workplace structures/policies.
Grant Writing - In this class, students learn the basics of grant writing including how to analyze funding opportunities, respond to a request for proposal, write the different sections of a grant proposal, construct the overall argument for the grant and persuade readers to fund ideas, and use effective document design to ensure that readers can follow main ideas. Students work in small groups for a non-profit client, write a major proposal, and give a final presentation. During the second half of the semester, students meet with their client as needed outside of class as well as conduct research and work independently with their group under the supervision of the professor.
Technical Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English - This course is a professional writing course in which students learn the rhetorical principles, strategies, and writing practices necessary for producing effective technical documents.
Technical Writing - This course is a professional writing course in which students learn the rhetorical principles, strategies, and writing practices necessary for producing effective technical documents.
Written Communication in Business - By examining the conventions of communication in workplace and organizational settings, students learn to analyze audience, purpose, and context in producing the following documents: job application materials, workplace correspondence, proposals, and reports.
Rhetoric of the Professions - This course applies rhetorical theory and research to writing produced within professional contexts. Students gain perspective on classical rhetorical theory as well as contemporary approaches, including but not limited to activity theory, visual rhetoric, discourse analysis, usability research, and electronic communication.
Graduate
Black in America: African American Writers (New Course)
We explore works by African American writers through fiction, non-fiction, film, drama, poetry, and song. Experience the works of Alice Dunbar Nelson*, James Weldon Johnson, Toni Morrison, Nafissa Thompson-Spires; Share in the creations of Lorraine Hansberry, Ava Duvernary, Misha Green, and Bryan Stevenson*; Connect with the artistry of Sonia Sanchez, Nikki Finney, Nnamdi Chukwuocha and Al Mills*, and Jericho Brown as they all depict lived experiences and interpret social, political, and cultural realities. Students complete a written midterm and develop a final project that will help advance their writing goals.
*Delawareans
Beyond Sight- Race and Rhetoric in Contemporary Times (New Course)
This course combined approaches to rhetorical theory, critical race theory, visual culture, and new media technologies to explore relationships between words and images for the Masters in Liberal Arts Program. We looked to images, magazine covers, pages and screens other people have designed, and figured out why (or why not) they succeed in doing what they set out to do.
Undergraduate - 100/300 Level Courses
Introduction to Professional Writing - In this course, students learn about what professional writers do on the job, and begin learning some of the core communication tools/proficiencies needed to be successful in your career path. The course balances core theories that drive and shape the discipline with hands-on practice and exercises.
Studies in Diversity: Formation -African American Women Writers (New Course) We explored African American women’s writing through fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry, and song. We experienced the powerful works of Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, and Ntozake Shange. We also connected their texts with the artistry of Beyonce, Nina Simone, and Lauryn Hill as they all depict and interpret social, political, and cultural realities.
Rhetorics of Diversity: Toward Social Consciousness (New Course) - In this course, we examine the rhetorical strategies that activists, companies, and laypeople use to advocate and to implement socially conscious practices. Our readings not only introduced some foundational material about ethics and the function of diversity in workplaces, we also covered rhetorical theory.
Honors - Critical Reading and Writing – Race and Rhetoric - This course is designed to develop students’ academic writing, critical thinking, rhetorical strategies, and library skills. In addition, students will learn about race studies and think more critically about diversity in the workplace.
Seminar in Composition -This course is designed to develop students’ academic writing, critical thinking, rhetorical strategies, and library skills.
Undergraduate - 400/600 Level Courses
E-Portfolios (New Course) – In this course, students study professional portfolios, job market materials, and social media identity as genres while creating their own. They select and develop items for inclusion in a portfolio with a particular focus on critical reflection of work composed during their program of study. They also address rhetorical approaches to shaping the materials and look carefully at the work of others to offer feedback.
Internships in Writing Studies - This is a professional writing capstone where students work outside the classroom with a company or an organization to gain practical experience related to their English degree.
Rhetoric, Race, and Culture in Professional Contexts (Technical Writing) (New Course) - In this course, students learn about race studies (or the study of systemic issues), rhetorical theory, and culture (visual, oral, and written). By the end of the semester, students will consider the function of diversity in professional spaces and will become more familiar with workplace structures/policies.
Grant Writing - In this class, students learn the basics of grant writing including how to analyze funding opportunities, respond to a request for proposal, write the different sections of a grant proposal, construct the overall argument for the grant and persuade readers to fund ideas, and use effective document design to ensure that readers can follow main ideas. Students work in small groups for a non-profit client, write a major proposal, and give a final presentation. During the second half of the semester, students meet with their client as needed outside of class as well as conduct research and work independently with their group under the supervision of the professor.
Technical Writing for Non-Native Speakers of English - This course is a professional writing course in which students learn the rhetorical principles, strategies, and writing practices necessary for producing effective technical documents.
Technical Writing - This course is a professional writing course in which students learn the rhetorical principles, strategies, and writing practices necessary for producing effective technical documents.
Written Communication in Business - By examining the conventions of communication in workplace and organizational settings, students learn to analyze audience, purpose, and context in producing the following documents: job application materials, workplace correspondence, proposals, and reports.
Rhetoric of the Professions - This course applies rhetorical theory and research to writing produced within professional contexts. Students gain perspective on classical rhetorical theory as well as contemporary approaches, including but not limited to activity theory, visual rhetoric, discourse analysis, usability research, and electronic communication.
