ENG 300: Current Trends and Issues in English Education



ENG 300: Current Trends and Issues in English Education

Fall 2005 Tuesdays 4:00-4:50

Sandra Raymond Office hours: Tuesday 5-6 PM, Thursday 11:30 AM-12:30

English Education Advising hours (LA 305): Tuesday 11-12:30, Thursday 12:30-2:00

Office: LA 115 E Email: sandra.raymond@nau.edu

Office Phone: 523-0951 Website:

Course Description:

This is a one credit hour course introducing the educational, social, and political trends and issues currently influencing the teaching of Language Arts at the secondary level. We will pay particular attention to trends in curriculum development, standards and standardized testing, policy issues, and public perception of teachers.

Course Requirements:

In order to complete the requirements for this course, you will need an email account, a dana account or web domain (NAU offers free email and web domains to all NAU students) as well as access to the internet. You may access the internet for free at Cline Library and at the Flagstaff Public Library, as well as at many computer labs on campus.

Required Text:

There is no textbook for this course. In order to keep the content of this course as current as possible, readings will made available on electronic reserve at Cline Library, or copied and handed out in class.

Course Objectives:

At the end of this course students should:

Be able to identify and discuss major trends and issues in the areas of reading and writing instruction, standardized testing and assessment, teacher training, technology, classroom management, and curriculum development.

Be able to apply the current Arizona state standards in the area of English/Language Arts to teaching and lesson planning.

Develop a habit of reflecting on their own experiences, biases, motivations, and interests with regard to being and becoming a teacher.

Attendance and Participation:

This course meets only one hour per week, so it is expected that all students will attend each class session. Because participation in discussion and group activities is so important for this course, excessive absences and lateness will affect your grade.

Assignments and Grading:

Discussion groups 40 points 130-150 = A

WebQuest 30 points 120-129 = B

Issue Paper 50 points 105-119 = C

Final Exam 30 points 90-104 = D

Total 150 points 0-89 = F

Schedule:

Tuesday, August 30

Introduction to course and syllabus

Overview of trends and issues

Tuesday, September 6

Discuss: Elliot Eisner’s essay “The Kind of Schools We Need” (on reserve at Cline Library)

and Evan Keliher’s article “Forget the Fads—The Old Way Works Best”

(handed out in class)

Tuesday, September 13

Discuss: Arthur Applebee’s article “Engaging the Students in the Disciplines of English:

What are Effective Schools Doing?” ( on reserve)

Tuesday, September 20

WebQuest (we will not meet as a class)

Read Teclehaimanot and Lamb’s article “Reading, Technology, and Inquiry-Based Learning Through Literature-Rich WebQuests” ( on reserve)

Tuesday, September 27

Discuss: Joseph Casbarro’s article “The Politics of High-Stakes Testing” and

Claire Berube’s article “Are Standards Preventing Good Teaching?” (on reserve)

Tuesday, October 4

Discuss: Bill Gribben’s article “Our Ambivalence toward Teaching Grammar” and

Michael Pressley’s article “Balanced Literacy Instruction” ( on reserve)

Tuesday, October 11

Discuss: Lindblom’s article Teaching English in the World: “It’s the Students, Stupid!” and

Marsha Grace’s article “Be a Better Writer, Be a Better Teacher.” (on reserve)

Tuesday, October 18

Discuss: “The Politics of Teaching” (handouts)

Student activism

Censorship in the classroom and creating rationales

Tuesday, October 25

Using Technology in the Classroom (handouts)

Tuesday, November 1

Meet in Cline Library—complete research activity (handouts)

Tuesday, November 8

Writing and Revision strategies (handouts)

Tuesday, November 15

Bibliography for Issue Papers Due

Tuesday, November 22

Workshop draft of Issue Papers

Tuesday, November 29

Issue Papers Due

Present Issue Papers

Tuesday, December 6

Present Issue Papers

Review for Final Exam

December 12-16 Finals Week

Final Exam

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