Last updated: 2010-02-19
In May 2005, I received my Master of Arts degree in English (with a concentration in creative writing) from North Carolina State University, and have subsequently taught English composition, creative writing, and other courses at various levels. View my full Curriculum Vitae (.rtf).
My typical composition class involves much student interaction, as I've found it to be a better instructional tool than straight lecturing, and more interesting to the students besides; if they can participate in the learning process, the information tends to stay with them longer than it would if they merely took notes. Consequently, I pay attention to the class as a whole (and every class is different) to discern what methods to employ, rather than plowing ahead regardless of whether the lessons have been comprehended. I'm also a stickler for correct grammar, punctuation, and word usage, and will offer refresher sessions to brush up on these essential basics.
In my creative writing classes, I'm a big believer in the workshop method. Having participated in the prestigious Clarion Writers' Workshop in Michigan and the Strange Horizons Workshop in Oregon, as well as various fiction workshops during graduate school at NCSU, I've become convinced that the chairs-in-a-circle critique session (during which the author whose story is being critiqued sits quietly in the "cone of silence") is an extremely effective way of learning what works and what doesn't in a given piece of writing. In workshops I've conducted, I couple these critique sessions with lectures on the fundamental elements of narrative writing (character, plot, setting, dialogue, viewpoint, telling details, etc.), and in my genre-writing lectures I also bring in worldbuilding, theme, speculation/extrapolation, and tackling social/political issues through imaginative fiction.
See below for samples of my course syllabi:
Summer 2005
- Fiction Writing (.doc), MTWThF (YWW)
- English Fundamentals II, MWF (SAC)
- Argument-Based Research, Th (WTCC)
- Business & Technical Writing, MWF (SAC)
- English Composition II, MWF (SAC)
- Advanced Composition, TTh (SAC)
- Fiction Writing (.doc), MTWThF (YWW)
- English Composition I, TTh (SAC)
- English Fundamentals II (2 sections), TTh (SAC)
- Academic Writing (.doc) (2 sections), WTh (SMU)
- English Language (3 sections, Sec3), MTWThF (HCI)
- Sabbatical: Fiction-Writing Workshop in English (.doc) (1 week, end of Term 1), MTWThF (HCI)
- Workshop: Prose Writing for Publication (.ppt), Sat (ACS(I), GEB)
- Language Arts (Sec1), MTWThF (HCI)
- English Language (2 sections, Sec2), MTWThF (HCI)
- Literature in English (Sec2), MTWThF (HCI)
- Sabbatical: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing Workshop (1 week, end of Term 1), MTWThF (HCI)
- Sabbatical: Studies in Dystopia (1 week, end of Term 3), MTWThF (HCI)
- Workshop: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing, Sat (NYGH, GEB)
- Language Arts (3 sections, Sec1), MTWThF (HCI)
- Sabbatical: Science Fiction Scenario Writing (1 week, end of Term 1), MTWThF (HCI)
LEGEND
ACS(I) = Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Singapore
HCI = Hwa Chong Institution, Singapore
GEB = Ministry of Education Gifted Education Branch, Singapore
NYGH = Nanyang Girls' High School, Singapore
SAC = Saint Augustine's College, Raleigh, NC, USA
SMU = Singapore Management University, Singapore
WTCC = Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh, NC, USA
YWW = Young Writers' Workshop, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA