CCR

632: Composition On and Off the Page

Fall 2015, Mondays 5:15-8:05 p.m., HOL 201
Patrick W. Berry, pwberry@syr.edu, office: HBC 235
office phone: 315-443-1912
office hours: Thursdays, 9:30-11:30 a .m. and by appointment

http://patrickberry.com/ccr632fall15

Teaching with Genre: What, Why, and How

Finding time to reflect on the place of genre in our pedagogical practices is critically
important. Yet such reflection is often overlooked once we are fully immersed in our teaching.
What does it mean to teach with genre? How do we do it? Why do we do it? This symposium
will feature short presentations from CCR students as well as MA and MFA students from
ETS on how they are making sense of genre in their teaching.
You will work in pairs to develop a 10-minute presentation that offers audience members
some ideas for addressing issues related to genre in your classes. Consider a central
issue/concern raised by the readings, address it briefly, and explore an assignment, activity,
sequence of assignments, or practice that responds to this issue. Note: the assignment or
activity does not need to use the word genre; it only needs to be informed by the thinking
expressed in the readings. You should think of an assignment/activity/practice that you can
really use when you begin teaching.
Groups:
Anna and Jono
Jakob and Sarah
Rohan and Tim
Joel and Alex
Amanda and Anastasia
Emerile and Alexandra
Melissa and Wil
This project will ultimately be part of your final portfolio and is worth 15% of your grade. A
successful project will demonstrate deep engagement with the readings and will include an
innovative assignment or practice and a well-executed presentation/demonstration. Because
the presentation is ten-minutes, you want to engage with the ideas of the readings without
having them dominate your presentation. Your presentation should be designed for other
teachers. Youll receive a letter grade for this assignment.
The symposium is October 19 during class time and is open to the public.