WPA as Writer:

Representing the

Intellectual Work of

Writing Program Administration

English 680W Seminar

Fall 2003

Purdue University

Professor Shirley Rose

T&Th 10:30-11:45 HEAV210

494-3730;

Email instructor: roses@purdue.edu email class: engl680w0101031-class@relay.cc.purdue.edu; course home

Syllabus     Assignment Calendar     Project Specifications      Bibliography

 

Course Focus

What is the intellectual work of Writing Program Administration?  By focusing on WPAs’ and others’ representations of the intellectual work of writing program administration, the seminar will explore issues of curriculum development and faculty development for programs in first-year composition, writing centers, professional writing and writing across the curriculum.

 

Areas of Inquiry

Course readings, seminar discussions and activities, and course assignments will address themes and subjects such as the following:

·         what methodologies do WPAs draw from to design, undertake, and represent their program-related inquiry?

·         what rhetorical strategies do WPAs use to describe and document their work in writing program administration?

·         what stories do WPAs tell one another about their work and what are the ethical implications of these stories?

·         what analytical tools can be used to examine representations of WPA work?

·         what kinds of learning prepare WPAs for their work?

·         other questions and concerns suggested by course readings and student interest

 

Course Work Requirements

Reading/Discussion Assignments

 

Individual Projects
Students may select from the following projects for inclusion in a portfolio of course work. Complete portfolios are due on the last day of class (December 11). I strongly encourage you to submit drafts of projects for review at any time during the semester.  Students must take the initiative for scheduling presentations of projects to the class.

·         Group A

·         Job Description and analysis of a particular WPA position

·         Mini-Ethnography of a particular WPA as a writer

·         Report and analysis of shadowing a WPA for a day

·         Group B

·         Design and leadership of an in-class Situated Performance Activity based on an issue in writing program administration with reflective follow-up commentary

·         Analysis, critique, and revision of a particular WPA’s c.v.

·         Group C

·         WPA Conference Proposal (or WPA-related proposal for other conference)

·         Annotated Bibliography/List of Internet Resources for WPA subfield

·         Book Review of recent book on issue(s) of concern for writing program administrators

·         Letter of nomination for 2002-2003 WPA Book Award

 

Guidelines for completing and criteria for evaluating projects

Collaborative Class Project: Proposal for resources for Graduate Stduents WPAs and Graduate Stduies in Writing program Administration: Project Specifications


 

Course Texts

Required

Brown, Stuart C. and Theresa Enos, eds. The Writing Program Administrator's Resource: A Guide to Reflective Institutional Practice. Mahwah, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc, 2002. (available at Follett’s Purdue West)

WPA: Writing Program Administration 26.3 (Spring 2003) Issue on Changing the First-Year Curriculum, guest Edited by Christine Farris.

Coursepack for English 680W Fall 2003 (Coursepack will be in two parts. I will notify you when the coursepack is available.)

Additional readings will be available online, as in-class handouts, or on reserve at Hicks.

 

Recommended for your professional library

Linda Myers-Breslin, ed. Administrative Problem-Solving for Writing Programs and Writing Centers: Scenarios in Effective Program Management. Urbana, IL: NCTE, 1999.

Rose, Shirley K and Irwin Weiser, eds. Writing Program Administrator as Researcher: Inquiry in Action and Reflection.  Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann-Boynton/Cook, 1999.

Rose, Shirley K and Irwin Weiser, eds. Writing Program Administrator as Theorist: Making Knowledge Work. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann-Boynton/Cook, 2002.

Ward, Irene and William C. Carpenter, eds.  Allyn and Bacon Sourcebook for Writing Program Administrators.  New York: Longman, 2002

 

 

Course Grade

For a grade of "C" (or "Pass" for students taking course pass/fail):
Attend class regularly;
Read all required course texts and participate in class discussions about readings;
Contribute to in-class exercises;

Contribute to collaborative class project; and

Complete brief weekly in-class and out-of-class writing exercises

 

 For a grade of "B":
Meet all of the requirements for a "C" and
Complete a course portfolio of 3 individual projects, one project from each Group (see above).
Present one of the projects orally in class or incorporate it into the class website

 

For a grade of "A"
Meet all of the requirements for a "C" and
Complete a course portfolio of 4 projects, with at least one project from each Group (see above)
Present two of the projects orally in class or incorporate them into the class website.

 

All activities and assignments must meet course standards (including on-time completion) to receive credit. No incompletes. No incompletes. No incompletes.

No coursework accepted for credit after Friday of finals week.

 

 

last updated November 8, 2003