COURSE MATERIALS

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A high degree of variation in student preparation, particularly among economically underserved communities, means that an inclusive pedagogy must strive to make the hidden curriculum explicit. As instructors, we can do this by setting clear expectations about what successful academic writing and communication habits look like, while laying out the building blocks of argumentation and persuasive essay writing in and through our interpretation of philosophical texts. In this way, we contribute to leveling the playing field as we traverse it. For this reason, I incorporate philosophical and writerly skillbuilding exercises into my everyday classroom practices.

Argumentation

This exercise, developed collaboratively with other faculty in the School of the Art Institute First Year Seminar program, assists students with identifying the building blocks of argumentative essay-writing: how do we identify and develop our own framing problems, what does effective argumentation in service of a main idea or key proposal look like, and how do we hold these elements apart?

Problem | Argument | Idea exercise

Peer Review

In my experience, peer review is among the most effective pedagogical exercises I have employed in a university setting. Seeing other students using the concepts and frameworks we have discussed reinforces the impression that these ideas are within their reach. For this reason, I incorporate peer review modules for both midterm and final papers, allowing students to correct and improve each others’ work. Students universally report it being useful to their performance as thinkers and writers.

Guidelines for Peer Review

Group Presentations

It is important to me that students have opportunities to educate one another while also educating the educator. In my classroom, students contribute ideas and discussion in various ways. One successful technique that I often use is to incorporate research presentations, either alone (upper-level) or in small groups (lower-level). In my lower-level undergraduate classes, students work in groups of three to four to carry out guided interdisciplinary research into ethical and political issues in our contemporary world. The aim of this assignment is for students to formulate complex, stakes-filled inquiries supported by properly integrated evidence, to develop oral presentation skills, and to work collaboratively with their peers. As I guide them through this research, we talk about how to practice effective time management, how to make use of library resources and scholarly websites to identify sources, prepare an annotated bibliography, and adjust arguments to an audience’s existing knowledge and interest level.

Problems in Democracy | Health Care Ethics (adapted from Shaheen Moosa)