"The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe."
- Gustave Flaubert
I enrolled in ENG 6937 with the expectation not just to receive credentials to teach Writing & Rhetoric through FIU, but with the hope that the course would provide me with a more solid foundation from which to approach my teaching. I came in with some experience, having taught dual enrollment ENC 1101/1102 for the past three years through St. Thomas University. While that experience did help me build my teaching philosophy, it unfortunately did not provide much support as far as instructor approaches or methods. Thankfully, I have received this much-needed support over the past two months, both through the assigned readings and projects in the course, as well as the guided instruction.
Today I feel that I will be able to approach the Writing & Rhetoric course with renewed optimism and fresh eyes. While I do not plan on completely doing away with the activities and projects I did with my students before, I expect to incorporate new unit plans and attempt different projects to challenge both my students and myself to become better readers, writers, and thinkers.
It is my belief that learning is a life-long process, and I recognize now that as an instructor with 10+ years in the system, it's easy to fall into a rut and keep going through the motions. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to take this course because it reignited in me my passion for the written word and reminded me why I entered this profession in the first place.
This e-portfolio contains a course syllabus along with unit plans for ENC 1101. These unit plans incorporate 5 major writing projects that include daily goals, assignment sheets, and rubrics, along with scaffolding activities for students who may require additional assistance. Plans for ENC 1102 are forthcoming, and all plans and activities are subject to change, as I gain more experience with the curriculum and decide what works for my classroom and what doesn't.
In addition, I have included information about my teaching experience and philosophy, along with instructor and student resources. The information in this e-portfolio will no doubt be of use to me as I approach the Writing & Rhetoric course with a new outlook this year.
