Undergrad TA Training

Catalog description

This course offers advanced English majors and minors an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the teaching of writing through an embedded teaching assistantship within a section of ENGL 101: Composition. Enrollment is limited to 1\20135 students who have successfully completed either ENGL 315: Composition Tutoring or ENGL 337: Theories and Research in Writing, both of which are courses that provide significant training in writing theory and pedagogy. Students in ENGL 401 will serve as embedded teaching assistants (TAs) in a designated ENGL 101 course, where they will participate in and support classroom instruction. Typical activities may include leading short workshops or discussions, assisting with peer review sessions, working individually with students, providing formative feedback on drafts, and facilitating in-class activities under the supervision of the ENGL 101 instructor. The embedded TA serves two purposes: 1. To deepen their own understanding of writing pedagogy through active, mentored engagement in a real classroom setting 2. To support the ENGL 101 instructor by enhancing instructional capacity and improving the classroom experience for all students Although the TA is embedded within a specific ENGL 101 course, all supervision, assignments, and assessment for ENGL 401 will be conducted by the Writing Program Director. Coursework includes pedagogical readings, written reflections on classroom experience, quizzes and short response assignments, and completion of the Writing Program\2019s instructor training modules. The semester culminates in a final project that integrates theoretical perspectives on writing pedagogy with reflective analysis of the TA\2019s teaching experience. This course extends and applies the theoretical and practical knowledge developed in ENGL 315 or ENGL 337 and is particularly valuable for students preparing for careers in education, writing center work, or graduate study. Through this course, students gain professional experience in mentorship, communication, and pedagogical design while contributing meaningfully to the success of first-year writers. Prerequisites: ENGL315 or ENGL337 College of Arts & Sciences English