TA Orientation
August 4,2003—August 22, 2003

Syllabus

Note: Readings and Assignments are due on the date listed.
August 4
August 5
August 6
August 7
August 8
August 11
August 12
August 13
August 14
August 15
August 18
August 19
August 20
August 21
August 22
Click on date to jump to the schedule for that day.

Monday, August 4

8:30-12:30 Graduate College Orientation (MU Ventana room)
1:00-1:30   Welcome, Introduction and Casual Lunch (LL316)
1:30-3:00   Kathy Radspinner (TA employee paperwork)
3:00-4:00   Introduction to the Orientation and to Writing Programs (goals)

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Tuesday, August 5  Room CPCom 223

  8:30-11:00  Analysis and discussion of Writing Programs’ policies and resources
11:00-12:00  Greg Glau, WPA Welcome
12:00-1:00    Lunch break
1:00-3:00  Discussion of assigned Readings
3:00-4:00 Welcome from Elizabeth Horan, Chair, Keith Miller, Associate Chair, Faye Verska, Business Manager, and Executive Assistant
Due: Read “Defining a Role, Defining a Job” pp. 1-23; “Getting Ready to Teach Before Classes Begin” pp. 24-31; and “Preparing a Class Policy Sheet,” pp. 39-41 in TA Handbook; and Hillocks “Some Basics for Thinking about Teaching Writing” pp. 1-16 in TC


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Wednesday, August 6 Room CPCom 223

  8:30-10:00 Discussion of how syllabi function; analysis of sample syllabi
10:00-12:00 Overview of George and Trimbur’s textbook; and unit sequence; introduction to and analysis of first unit
12:00-1:00 Lunch break
  1:00-3:00 Groups report on analysis
Due: Read “Teacher” pp. 232-235 in Keywords; “Designing a Course Syllabus,” pp. 35-39 and "Seeing Yourself as a Teacher" pp. 42-45 in TA Handbook; George and Trimbur “Preface” and “Introduction” pp. 1-6 in Reading Culture


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Thursday, August 7  Room CPCom 223

  8:30-10:00 Further discussion of goals and approaches, reflective teaching, and designing assignments
10:00-11:30 Discussion of classroom management and recordkeeping
11:30-1:00  Welcome from Demetria Baker, Writing Programs Office Policies
 12:00-1:00  Lunch break
   1:00-2:00  Analysis of writing assignment Unit 1
   2:00-3:00  Workshop on Unit 1
Due: Read “Designing Writing Assignments,” pp. 57-71 in TA Handbook; George and Trimbur Chapter 4 "Images" pp. 173-218 (Unit 1 readings)


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Friday, August 8  Room CPCom 223

  8:30-10:30 Discuss George and Trimbur’s article relating theory to practice
10:30-12:00 Representatives from Affirmative Action and Intergroup Relations
12:00-1:00   Lunch break
  1:00-3:00  Introduction to Units 2-3
Due: George and Trimbur, “Cultural Studies and Composition” pp. 71-91 in Guide and Harkin “Cultural Studies” pp. 53-57 Keywords


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Monday, August 11  Room CPCom 225 (note room change)

  8:30-10:00 Discuss Berlin’s article
10:00-12:00  Groups to discuss developing Units 2 and 3
12:00-1:00  Lunch break
 1:00-2:00   Groups continue
 2:00-3:00  Initial reports, questions, problems and challenges from groups
Due: Read Berlin, “Rhetoric and Ideology in the Writing Classroom” pp. 53-72 in TC; Read George and Trimbur relevant pages for Unit 2 and 3 (TBA)


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Tuesday, August 12  Room CPCom 225

  8:30-11:00 Groups continue work on developing units
11:00-12:00 Discussion of progress on units, challenges, questions
  12:00-1:00 Lunch break
    1:00-3:00 Groups finalize presentation of units

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Wednesday, August 13 Room CPCom 225

  8:30-12:00 Group presentations of units 2 and 3
12:00-1:00   Lunch break
  1:00-2:00  Introduction to Unit 4, and Portfolio Analysis
  2:00-3:00  Groups work on developing unit 4 and portfolio analysis assignment
Due:  Unit (2 or 3) for presentation to class


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Thursday, August 14  Room CPCom 225

  8:30-10:00 Discussion on Reflective Teaching and Teaching Portfolios
10:00-12:00 Preparing for the First day, and week, of class
12:00-1:00  Lunch break
1:00-3:00 Groups work to finalize unit 4 and portfolio analysis assignment
Due: Read “Reflective Teaching” pp. 205-212 and “Teaching that First Class” pp. 49-55 in TA Handbook


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Friday, August 15  Room CPCom 225

 8:30-12:00 Discussion of strategies for presenting materials in class
12:00-1:00  Lunch break
 1:00-2:30  Presentations of Unit 4 and portfolio
 2:30-3:00  Introduction to responding and evaluating student writing
Due: Read “Presenting Material in Class” pp. 112-133 in TA Guide
          Unit 4 and portfolio analysis assignment


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Monday, August 18  Room LL 316 (note room change)

  8:30-11:00 Workshop syllabi
11:00-12:00 Workshop first day/week lesson plan
12:00-1:00   Lunch break
1:00-3:00 Discussion of responding and grading student writing; discussion of responses and grades on sample student papers
Due: Rough Draft of Syllabus, and first day lesson plan
         Read “Students” pp. 225-27 in Keywords; “Responding to Student Writing” and “Grading Student Writing”
          on pp. 76-107 in TA Handbook;
         Responses to and grades on sample student papers


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Tuesday, August 19  Room LL 316

 8:30-10:30 Demetria Baker and Peggy Wallace; Walk through WPA Office and training on equipment and procedures
10:30-11:00 Proofeading workshop on syllabi
11:00-12:00 Discussion of questions, and challenges
12:00-1:00    Lunch break
  1:00-2:00  [M&M review syllabi] Visit assigned classrooms
  2:00-2:30  Jan Kelley (Service Learning)
  2:30-3:00  Return syllabi (conference as necessary)
Due: Final draft of ENG 101 Course description, policies and Syllabus


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Wednesday, August 20 Room LL 316

   8:30-9:30 Discussion of Brandt’s article
 9:30-12:00 Teaching Portfolio Workshop
12:00-1:00  Lunch break
  1:00-3:00  ASU students and student services; Presentations by
                        Linda Sullivan (Developmental profile of first-year ASU students)
                       Greg Schrader (Counseling and consultation)
                       Carl Takao and Debrah Sullivan (Student Life)
Due: Materials for Teaching Portfolio Workshop; Read Brandt’ “Sponsors of Literacy” on pp. 546-566 in TC; and “College Students: A Developmental Perspective” on pp. 166-169 in TA Guide


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Thursday, August 21  Room LL 002 and LL 272

  8:30-10:00 General Meeting of Writing Programs Faculty (Room LL 002)
10:00-11:00 Wrapping up Discussion; discussion of teaching portfolio (Room LL 272)
11:00-12:00 Welcome from Jackie Wheeler, Associate WPA; Karen Dwyer, Director of Stretch Program
12:00-1:00   Lunch break
  1:00-2:30   Panel of Experienced TAs
  2:30-3:00   Welcome from GSEA president Jennifer Clary-Lemon, and Presentation on the PFF (Preparing Future Faculty Program) from Vernon Dickson
3:00   Sign up for Voluntary conference on Friday, 8/22, with Michael or Maureen
Due: Teaching Portfolio
          Review "Balancing Demands: Life as a TA" pp. 18-23; and "Seeing Yourself as a Teacher" pp. 42-45 in TA Guide


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Friday, August 22

Optional Conferencing with Michael and Maureen (sign up on Thursday)

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