Assignment: For your presentation on a career in writing, you will use the "I'm an English major - now what?" text as a starting place. You will supplement your research into career possibilities with the websites posted on our blog. During your presentation you will answer the following questions:
- What are the job descriptions in this profession?
- What kinds of writing do individuals in this profession do?
- How can you prepare yourself for this kind of writing profession?
- What resources are available to individuals who want to enter your profession?
- What are some of the obstacles?
- What are some creative ways to give yourself an “edge” for entering your profession?
SAMPLE PRESENTATION: TEACHING ENGLISH/WRITING AT THE POST-SECONDARY LEVELDescription of the range of job descriptions for post-secondary English teachersSubject material: As a college “professor” you can teach composition, business writing (writing in the professions), creative writing (poetry, fiction & creative nonfiction), or English literature.
Work setting: You can teach at a community college, a 4-year college, or a university (a 4-year school that offers graduate training).
Job title: Your job classification may be: tenure track, full-time nontenure track , or adjunct faculty.
Each of these
Credentials: For composition, professional writing & English literature, you will be expected to have a Ph. D. at the University & College level, and at least an M. A. at the Community College level. For creative writing, a Master of Fine Arts is the terminal degree.
Academic experience in research & teaching will help you get a job. As an undergraduate, working at a writing center, participating in student research projects, working on student publications, taking part in writing contests & conferences will set you up to get into graduate school. As a graduate student, fellowships, teaching assistantships, participation in conferences, and publications will help you get a job.
Job description:Tenure-track faculty are expected to contribute to the development and life of the university where they work. They do so by contributing teaching, research, and service that reflects their interests and training.
Service: Tenure track faculty participate in designing and developing programs and courses in their Department and School; the serve on University, School, and Department committees to govern, plan, and create the university and its policies; they participate student advisement, sponsor student groups, and so on.
Teaching: Tenure track faculty generally teach some number of “service” courses – either introduction to literature, or the required composition courses plus courses in their area of specialty.
Research: Tenure track faculty are expected to participate in professional conferences (see for example) and they are expected to publish essays, book chapters, and/or book-length studies in their area of expertise. Professional journals include:
College Composition & Communication,
Computers and Composition,
Composition Studies; Academic publishers include:
Routledge,
Sage; and
NCTE - to mention only a few.
Full-time nontenure-track faculty and adjunct faculty are primarily expected to teach. They often teach entry level courses, but may have upper-level and graduate responsibilities depending on their training and expertise.
What kinds of writing do individuals in this profession do?Teaching:syllabus + calendar
course assigments and other course documents
feedback /communications/directions to students
Servicecourses
meeting agendas
memos
program proposals
reports for accreditation
evaluations of courses, personnel, programs, etc
student letters of recommendation
grant proposals
policy statements
administrative practices
communications with colleagues
Research:
Notes/writing to gather information => develop ideas
Abstracts & proposals
Essays
Books
Reviews for articles, courses, articles, books
Conference participation - talks + abstracts for talks + programs
Grant proposals, reviews, and reports
How can you prepare yourself for this kind of writing?The two most important moves to prepare yourself for academic writing are learning how to analyze & write in the form of a wide range of academic genres, and making connections with appropriate mentors and peers.
for teaching – use models from other teachers, books & websites on teaching, talk to your colleagues
for service – use models from the institution where you serve = this kind of writing really about following guidelines. Again, support + information from mentors will be key.
for your research - read journals and publications in your area and pattern your work on the materials you value. Write to editors, talk to published authors, ask colleagues to read your work.
And the very best way to prepare is - in tandem with reading samples of what you want to write - to write, write, write, and write some more. Joining a peer writing group or working with a writing center or studio can also be very helpful.
Professional organizations:College Conference on Composition and CommunicationNational Council of Teachers of EnglishAssociation of Writing Programs (Kean University has a membership in this organization).
Modern Language AssociationNational Writing ProjectPoets and WritersObstacles to entering the profession:Competition for entry into high prestige graduate programs is high, as is competition for jobs at Colleges and Universities. Many Community Colleges now require applicants to have a Ph. D.
Hiring depends on openings. In general, it is easier to get a teaching job as a composition instructor than as a English literature instructor; and it is easier to find a job as adjunct faculty, than to find a job as a tenure-track faculty member. Also, the tenure process can be dangerous – there are high demands on time and energy to make your way through the process. It will not be a 40-hour per week job.
What are some creative ways to give yourself an “edge” for entering your profession?Choose a graduate program with professors well known as mentors.
Choose a graduate program with a high success-rate for placing its graduates.
Take a course of study that prepares you in an area with “flexibility”; pay attention to patterns for hiring.
Go to professional conferences; if possible give a presentation.
Go to workshops.
Work on research projects with your professors; see if you can have several publications or works in progress by the time you are on the job market.
Join a writing group.
Get some teaching experience, either as a teaching assistant or through adjunct work.
Keep up with research in your area of interest. Volunteer to review articles, books for the journals you are most familiar with.
If possible, look into writing a grant proposal or working with a group to write a grant proposal.
Make sure to get enough exercise + recreation.
Don’t stress over writing a “perfect” dissertation – just get it finished.
