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Call for Experimental Writing Workshop Proposals (Spring 2012)
TO: All Writing Program Teaching Associates
FROM: Peggy Woods
Although the Writing Program has lost the funding for the experimental writing workshops, we are committed and determined to continue with these courses. For Spring 2012 we are committed to offering at least 2-3 workshops. We are currently investigating new funding sources for these courses and hope to be able to offer more.
THE COURSES:
Courses generally meet in seminar style (capacity 12) – one evening or late afternoon a week for 2.5 hours – and are pass/fail. The emphasis is on experimental. The aim is for you to design and teach the sort of writing course you've always wanted to give . . . or take, the sort of course that breaks the usual bounds of form, content, or intended audience. As examples, past semesters' workshops have included these titles: Collaborative Writing; Experimenting with Text in Writing and Art; “This Amherst Life”; Reading and Writing the Graphic Novel; Digital Storytelling, and Poetry in Performance. (See the Web site for more of last year’s offerings.)
All Experimental Writing Workshop participants will showcase their work at The Celebration of Writing Festival, The Writing Program’s end-of-season celebration on Wednesday, May 2, 2012.
THE TEACHERS (two-person teaching teams are encouraged):
Traditionally workshops have been team taught, with interesting results. Therefore, we would encourage (but not require) you to take a two-person team approach to developing and proposing your course. Teachers will be selected according to their proposed course design as well as audience appeal, and their interest in teaching as indicated by 111/112 teaching evaluations. While priority will be given to veteran teachers, new Writing Program teachers may also apply.
SUPERVISION:
Everyone teaching an experimental workshop will be required to participate in a corresponding graduate practicum seminar, conducted by Peggy Woods. The seminar will meet biweekly and will carry 1 credit.
PAYMENT:
Along with the credits received for the practicum, we offer teachers a $1,337 stipend to be added to their regular Writing Program teaching associateship.
SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL:
If you are interested, submit a course proposal and cover sheet directly to the main Writing Program Office. Cover sheets are available on our website. Proposals submitted without cover sheets will not be considered. The deadline for proposals is Monday, October 3. As you draft your proposal please remember the emphasis of these workshops is upon writing. Proposals should clearly indicate the ways in which workshop activities will enhance students’ writing skills by introducing them to new and perhaps untried venues for writing and encouraging them to explore new contexts, audiences, purposes and styles.
The deadline for proposals is Monday, October 3, 2011.
