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Fall 2021

• “Nothing About Us Without Us”: Voice and the Syllabus, A Research Proposal: This major paper shows my ability to find a problem, investigate that problem, and outline a framework for addressing that problem. I use personal experiences to offer deeper insights and nuance to the topics at hand. This paper also highlights my ability to synthesize and analyze scholarship from a range of academic discourses. Furthermore, this paper shows that English Studies is a rich and all-encompassing field.

• Empowering Cesario, or The Harbingers of Genderfluidity: This literary analysis highlights my ability to read and analyze one of the world’s great works of literature, Twelfth Night, or What You Will. In particular, I apply my knowledge of gender and queer studies to offer original ways of looking at Cesario, while also engaging with existing scholarship. Further, this essay shows clear organization and a step-by-step unfolding of ideas.

• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: A Cripped-Queered Literature Review: This bibliographical essay shows my ability to grapple with the history of how scholars have grappled with Frankenstein. In addition, I offer ways to further merge and expand existing research. This process involved applying and combing knowledge from Queer Studies, from Disability Studies, and from English Studies.

• Exploring Disability in Magical Realist Fictions: This literary analysis underscores my ability to take risks and to offer fresh insights–again using Disability Studies–into a text that has been written about again and again, “A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings.” This essay offers sustained, strong arguments with clear examples that gradually unfold.

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Spring 2022

• Open Letter to Inmates: This essay shows my ability to engage with a less formal genre of academic writing. Rather than a formal analysis, per se, this writing sample shows application and creation: In it, I share my personal and professional experiences in a framework that aims to benefit the audience, an audience of people wanting to write more and possibly publish their work. This essay also highlights key parts of my own teaching philosophy.

• A Partial Jane Austen Exhibit: Letters Among the Leigh Family: The assignment that resulted in this essay/project is one of, if not the, most creative and interesting assignments I’ve ever been given. We were charged with transcribing a never-before-studied letter among the Leigh family (Austen’s maternal ancestors) and then contextualizing it as if we were making a museum display. This project highlights my ability to do paleography and to offer relevant meanings and connections where they are not immediately clear. This assignment shows strong research and strong writing skills. It also shows by ability to write for the non-specialist. The assignment was exciting to complete, and I think this passion shows in the final product.

• “The Pegoda Eye”: Journeys Being an Editor: This literacy narrative outlines some transformative events in my journey as a writer. It shows that the journey toward success can be messy and always requires revision.

• Analyzing Pedagogy and Understanding Composition Studies: This review essay is the result of quickly reading and analyzing seventy-one articles in Pedagogy and offering an evaluation as to the “state of the field.” It shows my ability to synthesize and analyze, while being concise and remaining comprehensive. Given my own interest in pedagogy, as well as publication record on topics related to teaching and learning, this essay was especially interesting to write.

• Cripping Composition: An Annotated Bibliography Organized Chronologically: This annotated bibliography again highlights my on-going interests in expanding my knowledge further into Disability Studies. And again, it shows my ability to read and evaluate academic articles and then communicate the important ideas using clear prose. This essay stands out too as Dr. Webb asked if she could use it in future classes as an example essay.

• Composition Studies: Toward Greater Visibility: This video essay underscores my speaking and presentation skills, which are the result of practice and significant teaching experience. It also highlights my ability to creatively present information about Composition Studies to audiences unfamiliar with the academic field.

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Summer 2022

• Big Idea English Studies Syllabus: This video essay, based on some content initially created before starting this program, captures why English Studies is really important. It showcases the opportunity and flexibility that language provides humans. The combination of words and stock video and overall video production aim to really reinforce how powerful all things language are. This video also shows that English Studies does important compositions beyond the written essay.

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