Past Courses

Spring 2020 Courses

Effective Academic Writing for Native English Speakers (PDEV 79403)

What are the elements of effective academic writing? How do we know effective academic writing when we’ve read it? Is there a disconnect between what is valued as academic writing and what we value as readers and writers? If so, how can we bridge the disconnect? This course—at once a seminar and a workshop—seeks to explore, unpack, and answer these questions as they relate to the specific writing concerns, experiences, and interests of the participants. Through our discussions, readings, writing exercises, and peer-review of participants’ current writing project(s), we will identify how writing practices, language and style, research, the conventions of disciplines, and our own values and passions contribute to effective academic writing.

Instructor: David Hershinow

Time: Mondays, 6:30-8:30 PM

Effective Academic Writing for Non-Native English Speakers (PDEV 79403)

This course is a workshop that aims to help non-native English-speaking students take control of their writing process as they move forward in their graduate studies. We look at the conventions that shape academic writing, keeping in mind that these conventions vary from discipline to discipline and from genre to genre. We focus on the writing process by looking at various steps we can take in order to create “effective academic writing,” with emphasis on discussing writing in progress. Students work on improving writing projects connected to their coursework. We deal with grammar and other writing convention issues as needed.

Instructor: Sharon Utakis

Time: Wednesdays, 11:45 AM-1:45 PM

Teaching Strategies (PDEV 79401)

This course provides Graduate Center students with community and structure to help them
prepare for and reflect on teaching at CUNY. This work proceeds from an understanding of the social contexts of teaching at CUNY, as well as the positionalities of graduate student instructors and adjuncts. This discussion-based course will use short theoretical readings to facilitate participants’ development of their own teaching philosophies and materials. The curriculum and structure will be responsive to the needs of the group. Foundational topics include classroom community, student-centered and active learning approaches, accessibility, course design and policies, lesson planning, assignment design, assessment, educational technology, writing pedagogy, and Critical University Studies. This course is designed for those who are preparing to teach for the first time, as well as more experienced instructors who want a communal, reflective space to work on their pedagogy.

Instructor: Kaitlin Mondello

Time: Fridays, 11:45 AM-1:45 PM

Advanced Spoken English: Teaching and Presentation Skills (PDEV 79400)

This course instructs students in the standard methods and style of teaching and presenting for the American university. This will prepare graduate students for classroom presentations and teaching. Additionally, students will improve their spoken English in a variety of academic and casual settings through guided instruction of American-style conversation, including discussion of American culture via themes and topics that are relevant to the students’ interests.

Instructor: Daniel Barry

Time: Wednesdays, 2-4 PM