Preview Review of Issues for Pedagogy and the Profession Small-Group Discussions Whole-Class Discussions Tips for Oral Exams Oral Exam Practice English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010

Writing Prompt English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 Based on your reading for tonight, what do you believe are the three most important pedagogical issues facing our profession?

Pedagogy and the Profession Readings categorize pedagogy in: Disciplinary Contexts Practical Applications External Influences Professional Frames English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010

Pedagogy and the Profession The Disciplines of English Studies English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 Importance of historical awareness Plays for power Speculative Grand Narrative Emancipation Narrative

Pedagogy and the Profession The Disciplines of English Studies English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 Different Disciplines, although Elbow is a bit cliché. Culture of Literature Culture of Composition

Pedagogy and the Profession The Disciplines of English Studies English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 “The most destructive common- sense myth about literacy acquisition is that since it is ‘a basic skill,’ it ought to come quickly and cheaply.”

Pedagogy and the Profession Pedagogical Practices English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 “Mystory seeks to develop a reflexive praxis that constantly questions both its subject and its authority to be subjective.”

Pedagogy and the Profession Pedagogical Practices English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 “Unlike written compositions, the internal logic of a Web piece is likely to appear first in the visual construction of the page—not only in the images chosen but the colors, the placement of text or links, the font, the use of white space, and other elements linked more closely to the world of graphic design than to composition pedagogy.”

Pedagogy and the Profession Pedagogical Influences English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 Standardizing curricula has impact on pedagogy. Students have impact on pedagogy. Reflective Practice

Pedagogy and the Profession Three Assumptions English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 Mastery of subject matter Develop in isolation “Learning” to teach ends with the degree

Pedagogy and the Profession English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 “Pedagogical inquiry involves a shift away from concepts to be acquired and theories to be mastered and toward ongoing, locally specific dialogue between teaching and research, action and reflection. It requires, at the same time, an examination of the systemic conditions that continue to position research above teaching, mastery above inquiry.”

Pedagogy and the Profession English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 “Valuing pedagogy, making pedagogy central to professing, requires more than scholarly efforts and more improved training practices. It requires a rethinking of entrenched notions of the discipline that determine the relationship of teaching to scholarship and that reinforce a limited conception of who the professor is and should be.”

Pedagogy and the Profession Key Question: English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 “How much has pedagogy changed English Studies?”

Pedagogy and the Profession Research Practices Our work is developmental, but More Precise More Focused Pedagogy as separate English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010

Pedagogy and the Profession Guiding Questions: 1.What role does pedagogy play in post- secondary English Studies? 2.Why is pedagogy an important aspect of post-secondary English Studies (or not)? 3.How is pedagogy presented in larger discussions of English Studies at colleges and universities? English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010

Writing Prompt English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 Summarize and then describe how your article answers, specifically, one of the guiding questions for this research topic.

Small Group Discussions Where does pedagogy “fit” in the profession? What is an ideal fit? Where are the margins? What are the implications for these positions? English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 Positioning Pedagogy

Small Group Discussions How do we professionalize teaching? What are ideal processes in the profession? Where are the margins? What is acceptable? Unacceptable? English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 Processing Pedagogy

Small Group Discussions How can the profession privilege pedagogy? Where are the pedagogical margins in the profession? What are the implications for promoting pedagogy in the profession? English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 Promoting Pedagogy

Whole Class Discussion English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010 Report findings from small-group discussions: Positioning Processing Promoting Pedagogy and the Profession

Writing Prompt 1.What is your biggest fear about the oral exams? 2.What is the best piece of advice you have received about taking the oral exams? English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010

Oral Exam Tips If you have a reading list, be sure to understand each item on the reading list; more importantly, understand relationships among the items. English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010

Oral Exam Tips Maintain focus throughout the exam Maintain self-confidence and composure Maintain good eye contact and posture English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010

Oral Exam Tips Be an intelligent listener. Listen carefully and make sure you understand exactly what is being asked. Don't interrupt. Wait until the examiner finishes the question before you start to answer. English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010

Oral Exam Tips Organize Your Responses Pause briefly after each question is asked. If you don’t understand the question, ask for clarification Compose your thoughts and organize your answer. English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010

Oral Exam Tips Answer the Question Be direct and to the point. State what you know and stop. Use two or three key points or examples to demonstrate your knowledge. English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010

Oral Exam Practice English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010

For Next Week Read materials for Writing Assignment #1: Writing about Teaching Continue Topic #2 Research (due Sept. 16) Begin Research for Topic #3 (Due Sept. 23) English 714 Ed Nagelhout 8 September 2010