Dear Students and Parents:
My name is Dr. C. I was born and raised in East Chicago, IN. I have a B.A. (Purdue University, 1996) and M.A. of Arts in English (The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1998). In 2004, I received my doctorate in American Studies (Purdue University). My areas of specialization are: American Studies, American/African American literature, Children's and Adolescent Literature, and English Education.
Since 1997, I have taught at the college level. The courses that I have taught range from Freshman Rhetoric and Composition to American Literature (19th and 20th century). Currently, I also teach 10th grade English at a local high school. This year, I am exposing my students to the genres/themes found in world literature.
I would like to share my teaching philosophy with you. Throughout my teaching career, I have always sought to be well-prepared and to provide students with a clear understanding of the course’s main objectives. As an American Studies scholar, I have stressed the importance of juxtaposing literature with history. My aim has been to assist students in making comparative analyses of American literary movements and societies, especially ethnic communities. By inviting students to make comparisons between and among literary movements and communities, I am making them cognizant of diversity and its role in the shaping of American culture, its texts, and its constituents.
As an instructor, it is my obligation to ensure that students understand these differences within my classroom environment as well as within and beyond the university. My pedagogical approach is reflective of bell hooks’ innovative teaching philosophy of engaged pedagogy. Her approach has provided me with the means to assist students to read and think critically, especially in regard to issues of race, class and gender.
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