Writing at the University
instructor: Pamela
In Pamela's two sections, her classes are taking a course designed as an introductory level writing class. The focus of her class is to enjoy writing, improving academic writing by learning different kinds of composition methods, and learning how to analyze.
What are you teaching?
I am teaching two LA courses this summer. Both of them are following the same syllabus, which is focused around writing at the university. The assignment that I am the most excited about is an architectural review of the EMP. When I am not teaching for Upward Bound, I am a lecturer in the American Ethnic Studies department and I teach African American literature and culture.
Why do you like teaching your subject?
I view reading and writing as powerful political projects (teaching is too) and I like being part of a course that emphasizes the potential for change that writing can bring.
Why is it so significant to teach at Upward Bound?
The students are an exciting challenge for me. Together we can work on material that I often don't get an opportunity to discuss in my university classes. Our time together in the summer is an intense period, where we can accomplish a great deal both in writing and reading critically, which makes for better college students. The cultural diversity and the diversity in ages really sparks some interesting conversations that better prepare our students for life in the real world, beyond high school and college.
What makes the students different? What makes them better?
The biggest differences I see between my teaching at the UW and at Upward Bound have to do with expectations. I like that Upward Bound students don't have a lot of preconceived notions about grades and evaluations and that they are thinking ahead toward their next goal-- college. Sometimes the drawback to this is that I assume our students are familiar with certain expectations of which they are unaware. This requires me to think faster and more efficiently, which isn't a bad thing. I do wish some of them remembered homework over the weekend without prompting....
Final thoughts...
Overall, I really enjoy the students here because they are fast paced- thinkers who are pretty savvy to the world around them. I like to think of you guys as the "cream of the crop" getting ready to take over the world.
Pamela's LA Class