EDSE 630
THEORY AND RESEARCH IN SECONDARY ENGLISH
LANGUAGE ARTS EDUCATION
Mondays 5:00-8:00 p.m. Room 333a
Instructor: Dr. Ingrid Johnston
Office: 445 Education South
Phone: 492-5639 (Office); 458-4806 (Home)
E-mail: ingrid.johnston@ualberta.ca
Office Hours: Mon/Wed: 2.30 to 4:30 p.m. and by appointment
Course Overview
This graduate course offers opportunities for in-depth critical explorations of theoretical and research issues in English language arts education. These will include topics of historical relevance as well as current and emerging issues and questions in the field of English language arts teaching, curriculum and theory.
Students will be expected to participate in class activities and seminar discussions using a variety of texts and materials related to theoretical and pedagogical issues in English language arts, and also to develop a particular focus on a related research area of personal interest. Topics dealt with in class will include: English and cultural studies; literature and race/gender/culture; ethnic minority writing; issues of authorial voice, language and culture in writing; children and multi-media; reading and responding to hypertext; Shakespeare in the 21st.century; changing literacies.
You may wish to pursue a related topic of personal interest or to consider other areas related to English language arts. These might include: new paradigms for writing instruction; the composing processes of writers; computers in the classroom; picture books and their potential for the classroom; learning to read in a multi-media age; television literacy; teaching multicultural literature; school literary canons; drama and English language arts; in-depth explorations of a particular research approach; questions of race/class/gender in the English classroom; potential and problems of new protocols in English language arts; contemporary literary theories and English language arts; language for learning; new approaches to poetry teaching; evaluating language arts; new questions of reader-response for the 21st century.
Texts and Fees
There are no required texts for the course, but you may receive a package of readings for a photocopying fee of $20.
Policy Information
Grading: This course follows the university guidelines for graduate course grading on a nine-point scale.
Inclusive Language: This course supports Faculty policy of using non-discriminatory language that works to create a classroom atmosphere in which students’ experiences and views are treated with equal respect and value in relation to their gender, racial background, sexual orientation and ethnic background.
Assignments and Evaluation
Class Presentation and Handout: 50 %
Select an area of interest to you related to theory and research in English language arts education. This could be a research question connected to an aspect of teaching, a new area of interest for you in the field, or a re-visiting of a familiar issue through a new theoretical lens. You will have an opportunity during class to consider a variety of texts that may offer insight into your selected topic and you will also be expected to do some independent exploration into the area.
Presentation:
Decide on a presentation format that will raise issues and questions about your chosen area and that will involve class members in some way (through discussion, or through some kind of activity (reading /writing/ multi-media /drama etc.) Your presentation should also include an overview of the resources you have found in the area and, if applicable, a critique of materials in the field or an explanation of which texts/materials you found to be of particular interest for you as a teacher/researcher.
You will have approximately an hour and a half for your presentation.
Presentation Evaluation: (30 marks)
Your presentation will be marked on both the content and the presentation during class.
The content should be well-organized and show evidence of critical reading and research into your chosen topic (15).
Your presentation should employ a variety of techniques which will actively engage the class in an exploration and critique of your chosen area (15).
Handout:
Develop a handout to duplicate for the class that will present an overview of your chosen area and that offers some possible teaching strategies in the area (between 2 and 3 double-sided pages). Include a bibliography of your resources.
Handout Evaluation: (20 marks)
The handout should be well-organized and focused on information relevant to your topic (10).
It should reflect sensitivity to your audience, have a professional appearance and offer teaching suggestions and a bibliography that enables readers to pursue further research into the area (10).
Paper: 50%
(due on the last day of class)
Write a paper on a topic of your choice related to research or theory in English language arts education. You may wish to write on a different topic from your presentation or to develop a similar topic in more depth or with a new perspective. Write the paper with a particular audience in mind so that you can develop it for future publication in a journal (e.g. Alberta English, English Quarterly, English Journal, Language and Literacy).
Paper Evaluation: (50 marks)
Your paper will be evaluated on the coherent development of your ideas and your insight into your chosen topic (25), on the organization and clarity of the paper (15), and on form and style choices (10).