Readings for New Instructors

The following is a list of readings for incoming instructors in Introductory Composition at Purdue. Your mentor will give you a list of the specific materials you should read before orientation. Links to the readings are given where available, and the rest are downloadable as pdfs. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view (and print) those documents; if you do not have this program, click here to download it for free. The pdfs are password-protected in order to ensure compliance with copyright issues (all copies will be made by individuals for educational purposes); you will find the password in the materials that were sent to you in early June.

For answers to many questions about technology access at Purdue, go to the FAQS page at Instructional Computing Services. If you have any difficulties, please feel free to e-mail Kristine Johnson, Assistant Director of Composition, for help.

ICaP Materials

• English 106 Goals, Means, and Outcomes Statement
• Instructional Spaces for English 106
• ICaP Student Guide
• Examples of student projects from the Showcase
• Digital Learning Collaboratory
• 2007-2008 TA Manual

Professional Articles

• Baron, Dennis. "From Pencils to Pixels: The Stages of Literacy Technologies."
(Scroll down the left toolbar to find the article link for "From Pencils to Pixels.")
• George, Diana. "From Analysis to Design: Visual Communication in the Teaching of Writing." CCC 54.1 (2002): 11-39.
• Harris, Muriel. "Collaboration is Not Collaboration is Not Collaboration: Writing Center Tutorials vs. Peer Response Groups." CCC 43.3 (1992): 369-383.
• Hartwell, Patrick. "Grammar, Grammars, and the Teaching of Grammar." CE 47.2 (1985): 105-127.
• Joliffe, David, and William Covino. "What is Rhetoric?" Rhetoric: Concepts, Definitions, Boundaries. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 1995. 3-26.(pdf)
• Newkirk, Thomas. "The First Five Minutes: Setting the Agenda in a Writing Conference."Writing and Response: Theory, Practice, and Research. Ed. Chris Anson. Urbana, IL: NCTE, 1989. 317-331. (pdf)
• Parker, William Riley. "Where Do English Departments Come From?" CE 28 (1967): 339-51. (pdf)
• Stewart, Donald. "Some History Lessons for Composition Teachers." The Writing Teacher's Sourcebook. Ed. Gary Tate and Edward PJ Corbett. 2nd ed. New York: Oxford UP, 1988. 16-23. (pdf)
• Whelan, Lara Baker. "What Writing Students Get from the Net: Using Synchronous Communication to Develop Writerly Skills."

Professional Resources

• Computers and Composition Online
• Kairos
• NCTE/CCCC Position Statements (NCTE's Position on the Teaching of English: Assumptions and Practices, CCCC Position Statement on Teaching, Learning, and Assessing Writing in Digital Environments, CCCC Students’ Right to their Own Language, CCCC Second Language Writers and Writing, CCCC Position Statement on the Preparation and Professional Development of Teachers of Writing)
• WPA Outcomes Statement for First-year Composition