STATEMENT OF TEACHING PHILOSOPHY



IN SEARCH OF CHARACTER

You will receive a single grade for this project that takes into consideration the authenticity of the interview, the quality of your writing, and the effectiveness of your presentation.

Interview: Spend some time thinking about an individual of exceptional character whom you admire. Select an exemplary person whose life experience and moral character serve as a role model for you in some specific way. Think outside your everyday circle of friends—it would be better not to choose a roommate, parent, or romantic partner.

Contact the person and ask for a face-to-face interview—not phone or email—on the importance of character and the ways to develop it. During the interview, ask this person to describe specific life events that became turning points (either good or bad) in the development of his/her inner character. Include questions that help you understand how your interviewee defines good character and the best ways to encourage it in others. Work from an interview guide—a list of carefully selected questions designed to elicit an easy flow of conversation from your interviewee. Be prepared to use follow-up prompts like “Why do you say that?” and “Tell me more” and “How do you feel about that experience now?” Ask for permission to take brief notes during the interview, and be sure to write a Thank You note afterwards.

Paper: Write a 4-page paper entitled “In Search of Good Character,” in which you summarize what you learned from the interview. Begin with an opening paragraph that introduces your interviewee and tells why you selected this particular person for the project. Then describe the person’s view of character and the life experiences that helped shape his/her own character. Be sure to include the interviewee’s opinions about effective ways to develop good character traits. Do not transcribe the entire interview, but select the most memorable remarks and organize them into a thoughtful essay about what you learned from this person. Conclude your paper with some introspective thoughts about yourself—how you are similar to or different from your interviewee, or how you can become more like this person in the future.

This paper is to be word processed in standard academic format. You may write in first person, but write well, edit carefully, and turn in a finished document that contains excellent language and expresses your best thoughts about communication and character. Pay special attention to the accuracy of your writing, as errors in language or punctuation will reduce your grade. No cover pages or binders, please.

Important: To avoid questions about the integrity of your work, be sure to review the guidelines for using tutors and friends as proofreaders, as found on the class website.

Presentation: Come to class prepared to make a 4-minute presentation about what you learned from your interview. Time will not allow you to cover all the points in your paper, but select the most relevant or meaningful ideas to share with your classmates. This is to be an extemporaneous presentation—no reading. As an advanced Communication student, you should deliver an excellent presentation that makes use of appropriate and effective language and fits within the time limit. Even though you are addressing your classmates, avoid chatty conversational style punctuated by slang and the use of like…like…like.

PowerPoint is not needed, but you may project the person’s photo if available.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download