Ferszt 1 Elizabeth Ferszt, Ph.D. 607 W 19th Street #19 Tempe, AZ 85281 elizabethferszt@yahoo.com 602-531-2039 Current positions: Faculty Associate, Writing Programs, English Dept., Arizona State University, Tempe Campus, Aug. 2012 to present. Classes taught: English 101 First-year Composition; English 102 Composition II; English 301 Professional Writing. Using Blackboard as CMS; ASU Common Textbook Committee: Readings editor. Editor, proof page editor, Technical Communication: A Reader Centered Approach, 8th edition (Cengage) by Paul Anderson, since Dec. 2012. Text used in ENG 301. Recent Positions: Visiting Assistant Professor, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan, 2005-2009. Course load 4/4, but normally assigned overload and summer classes; taught equivalent of five years. Typical preps included Advanced Composition, Justice in Literature, and Spanish; also taught LITR 311 American Lit I; taught many sections of Advanced Comp fully on-line via WebCt; founding faculty advisor to FSU Book Club 2007-09. English Faculty, BASIS Scottsdale charter school, since August 2011. Teaching assignment includes: five sections of 7th grade Rhetoric; two sections of 9th grade World Lit; one section of 12th grade Capstone English (using CourseSites as CMS); supervisor of 5th/6th grade lunch periods; second reader and recommender for Common Application Adjunct Instructor, Oakland Community College, Auburn Hills & Highland Lakes Campuses; six total years of service: since winter 1988 through May 2011, teaching all levels of composition and literature. Currently assigned to teach English 1060: Academic Literacy II, and English 1520: Composition II (Level C Instructor rank); utilizing Blackboard as CMS for content, grades Current Professional Development: Author, three YA novels and one non-fiction book available at Amazon.com (Historical fiction based on colonial 17th c. and trans-Atlantic New England) Mistress Muse https://www.createspace.com/3585271 The Martyr’s Mirror https://www.createspace.com/4030947 The Fifth Monarchy https://tsw.createspace.com/title/4030992 Essays 2000-2012 https://www.createspace.com/4120069 Ferszt 2 Guest Editor, Women’s Studies: Special Issue on Anne Bradstreet, (Jan. 2014) Co-edited with Ivy Schweitzer of Dartmouth, at the request of Wendy Martin, Provost and Dean, Claremont Graduate School, CA. Panel Organizer and co-chair, ‘Anne Bradstreet at 400,’ Society of Early Americanists, Savannah, GA Feb. 2013 Conference, in collaboration with Ivy Schweitzer of Dartmouth College http://www.cla.auburn.edu/sea/call-for-panelspapers/openpanels/anne-bradstreet-at-400/ AP Reader, Exam in English Literature, June 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Louisville, KY. Certified to earn 52 Professional Development hours, or 5.2 CE units. Educational Testing Service (ETS). AP Workshop materials available. Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest, Semi-finalist, Feb. 2012, Young Adult fiction category 5000 entries; 1000 chosen; book title: Mistress Muse, the First Passage www.amazon.com/abna Paper submissions: ‘Writing the Fifth Monarchy: Using Fiction to Perform Literary Analysis’ to EAL, fall 2012 ‘A Death in the Vocation’ to James Dickey Review, fall 2012 ‘Teaching Heart of Darkness’ to the Joseph Conrad Society (UK), July 2012 Nomination, Auburn Hills Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Award, Oakland Community College (OCC) Auburn Hills Campus, Michigan, 2011-12. Composition Seminar participant; John Mauk, author of Everyday Composition, facilitator. Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse City, MI Aug 2009. Paper Presenter, Blood Works Conference, May 5-7, 2011, University of Maryland, College Park, MD: “Bradstreet’s Blood: The Best Humor.” Paper Presenter, Society of Early Americanists Conference, March 3-6, 2011, Philadelphia: “Modest Mysticism: The Divine Meditations of Anne Bradstreet.” MTTC, [Michigan Test for Teacher Certification] subject area test in English, Oct. 2010, PASSED with four stars in all sub-areas (perfect score). Graduate Student, Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Orchard Lake, Michigan. M.A. in Theology program. Course work included: ST 851 Ecumenism and Inter-religious Dialogue: ST 752 Sacramental Theology Nominee, Adjunct Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award, Northwestern Michigan College, Fall 2009 semester: teaching load included three sections of Ferszt 3 composition and one section of Children’s Literature. Nomination by students and received by V. P. for Academics. Doctor of Philosophy, (Ph.D.) Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan; defended June 2006. Dissertation title: “Rejecting a New English Aesthetic: the Early Poems of Anne Bradstreet.” Principle areas of research included: Anne Bradstreet; 17 th century transatlantic texts; Puritanism; the Contact Period; Captivity Narrations; colonial ethnography and print culture. Cognate: Spanish. Committee: Jerry Herron, Arthur Marotti, Janet Langlois, Francisco Higuero, Hillary Ratner Education: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, B.A. English, Dec. 1983, cum laude University of South Carolina, Columbia, M.A. English, May 1986, cum laude Wayne State University, Detroit, Ph.D. English; Spanish-cognate, June 2006 Teaching Experience: English teacher, BASIS Scottsdale, full-time MS/US faculty, August 2011to May 2012 Adjunct instructor, Oakland Community College, Highland Lakes campus, winter 2011 Adjunct instructor, Oakland Community College, Auburn Hills campus, fall 2010-winter 2011 Adjunct Instructor, Northwestern Michigan College, Traverse City, MI fall 2009 On-line instructor, Texas Women’s University, Denton, TX fall 2009 Visiting Assistant Professor: Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Aug. 2005 –May 2009 Adjunct Professor, LACC (Los Angeles City College), fall semester, 2008 Adjunct Instructor: Oakland Community College, OR, HL, RO campuses: Jan. 1988-90, 2000-05 Adjunct Instructor: Wayne State University, Detroit, 2001-2003 Instructor: Francis Marion University, Florence, SC, Aug. 2003-May 2004 Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of South Carolina, Columbia, 1984-1986 Adjunct Instructor: Midlands Technical College, Columbia, SC 1986-87 Adjunct Instructor: Trident Technical College, N. Charleston, SC 1993-94 Adjunct Instructor: Low Country Technical College, Beaufort, SC 1997-98 Adjunct Instructor: Charleston Southern University, SC 1994-1997 Academic Coordinator: Registrar, Charleston Southern University, SC 1996-1998 Adjunct Instructor: Henry Ford Community College, Dearborn 1989-90 Director of Testing/Developmental Programs: Davenport University 1999-2000 Adjunct Instructor, Detroit College of Business, Warren, fall-winter 1989-90 Substitute teacher, (long-term post), Cranbrook-Kingswood Schools, 1989-90 English & Spanish teacher: East Catholic High School, Detroit, 2002-2003 English & Spanish teacher: Sea Island Academy, Johns Island, SC 1992-93 Courses taught at FSU: English 150: Composition I English 250: Composition II English 321: Advanced Composition English 325: Advanced Business Writing Literature 286: Justice & Literature Ferszt 4 Literature 311: American Literature I Spanish 102: Beginning Spanish II Fully on-line sections of Eng 321 and 325; Lit 311 mixed delivery since 2005 Courses taught elsewhere: English 101: First year Composition, ASU 2012-13 English 301: Professional Writing, ASU 2012-13 Rhetoric/Public Speaking; Honors World Literature; Capstone Lit., BASIS 2011-12 English 1060: Academic Literacy II at OCC-AH, fall 2010 (6 credits) English 3293: American Literature since 1865 at TWU, fall 2009 English 210: Children’s Literature at NMC, fall 2009 English 111: English Composition at NMC (3 sections) fall 2009 English 21: Fundamentals of English at LACC (in ESL sequence) English 105/106 Developmental Writing and Reading (6 credits) at OCC English 151 at OCC Composition I: rhetoric English 152 at OCC Composition II: research English 112 at FMU Composition I with lab (4 credits) English 200 at FMU Advanced Composition ENGL 1020 Intro to Composition at Wayne State University ENGL 3010 Advanced Composition at Wayne State University Intro. to Lit. at OCC and Davenport University/DCB Developmental English and Developmental Math at Davenport U. Technical Writing and World Literature at Henry Ford CC Spanish I & II at high school level Study Skills/Freshman Transition course at CSU Writing Center staff at FMU and USC Critical Reading at Florence-Darlington Tech., Florence, SC SAT Prep class at Trident Tech, N. Charleston, SC Presentations, publications, service, training, professional development 2002-2010: CFP writer and organizer: Anne Bradstreet at 400 conference, June 2012, Salem State University (conference cancelled; CFP became SEA panel) Paper presenter: “The Early Poems of Anne Bradstreet” at the Society of Early Americanists Conference, Alexandria, Va. April 2005 Publication: “Nathaniel Ward”: Greenwood Encyclopedia of Poetry, 2004 Publication: “Charleston.” The Michigan Daily, Spring-break feature, 2004 Dissertation publicly defended, Wayne State U, Detroit, June 2006 Political Engagement Project, faculty member, FSU, fall 2006 Paper presenter: “Bradstreet’s ‘Four Humours’ as 17th c. Science.” at NEASECS, 2006 DVD produced: “Bradstreet’s ‘Four Humours’ as 17th c. Science.” (FSU-FCTL) Paper presenter: “Bunyan, Dudley, and Bradstreet: Weary Pilgrims in the New World” at 5th/3rd Meeting of the International John Bunyan Society, Aug. 2007 Dartmouth College Publication: “Richard Rodriguez and the Puritans”; EAL 43.2, Spring 2008 Website: Anne Bradstreet Archive http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/colleges/artsands/langandlit/bradstreet/ Faculty Advisor: FSU Book Club, founding member, since January 2008 Ferszt 5 Modern Languages Association (MLA) member since 2006 Society of Early Americanists (SEA) member, since 2002 “TCLC Celebrates 130 Years” feature article Beaufort Low Country magazine, 4-15-97 “Dog Days” article published in The Bark magazine, August 2008 http://www.thebark.com/ezine/features_specialFeatures/Dog-Days.html NMLA peer review/reader: article for submission on Bradstreet, April 2009 “Teaching Oscar Wao” article, April 2009; Pulitzer Prize winning author Junot Diaz Articles: “Dollar Store Books”; “Typos in Michael Crichton’s Pirate Latitudes” (2010) Credentials and Endorsements: Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC): Secondary Spanish, 2003 Clemson University, Moncks Corner, Master Gardener Certification, Nov. 1995 Michigan Dept. of Agriculture, Nursery Stock Dealer license, 2009-2010 Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC): Secondary English, Oct. 2010 Biographical Information and Awards: Born 1963, Detroit, Michigan Independent parent of three children, ages 26, 22, 18 Hopwood Award, Summer 1985; poetry, U-Michigan, Ann Arbor John Clare, American Academy of Poets, first prize, 2002 Wayne S U, Detroit Graduate Professional Scholarship (full) 2001-02, Wayne State University Gilder-Lehrman Travel Grant, Society of Early Americanists (2003, 2005, 2013) James Dickey, M.A.-thesis advisor/professor, 1984-1986 U-South Carolina Grant (full tuition), SSCMS, lay-person program, M.A. in Theology, Jan. 2011 St. Mary Student Parish/Newman Catholic Center at ASU member Ferszt 6 References for: Elizabeth Ferszt, Ph.D. elizabethferszt@yahoo.com 602-531-2039 Current supervisors: Demetria Baker or Shirley Rose Writing Programs, English Dept. Arizona State University P.O. Box 870302 Tempe, AZ 85287 480-965-2582/3168 dlb@asu.edu Genevieve West, Ph.D. Professor and Chair Department of English, Speech and Foreign Languages Texas Woman's University P.O. Box 425829 Denton, TX 76204-5829 940.898.2324 MWest2@mail.twu.edu Former supervisor(s): John Hillis, Head of School BASIS Scottsdale 11440 N. 136th St. Scottsdale, AZ 85259 480-451-7500 john.hillis@basisscottsdale.org Suba Subbarao or Bonita Myrand English Department Oakland Community College 2900 Featherstone Rd. Auburn Hills, MI 48236 248-232-4100 SXSUBBAR@oaklandcc.edu BKMYRAND@oaklandcc.edu Reinhold Hill, Dean (fka Chair + Dean at Ferris State U) College of Arts and Sciences Governor’s State University 1 University Parkway, University Park, Illinois 60484-0975 708.534.5000 hill5@govst.edu Colleagues: Tracy N. Busch Visiting Assistant Professor of History Ferris State U Big Rapids, MI 49307 Phone: (231) 591-5846 E-mail Address: TracyBusch@ferris.edu Rev. Mateusz Rudzik, Catholic priest 3535 Indian Trail Orchard Lake, MI 48324 248-464-4014 matt.rudzik@yahoo.com Ivy Schweitzer Professor of English Women's and Gender Studies Dartmouth College ivy.schweitzer@dartmouth.edu Personal reference: Julie D. Richland 2121 Chelsea Rd. Palos Verdes, CA 90274 310-924-7889 julie.richland@gmail.com Ferszt 7 Teaching Philosophy A few years ago, I was reading an article in the Chronicle, entitled “Feeling Different.”1 The piece was about receiving tenure. The author, James Lang, explains, “I’m on that summit now, and it feels pretty climactic – both good and different.” He goes on to explain his feelings of “relief” then “relaxation” at knowing he has achieved tenure. He makes small lifestyle changes, such as riding his bike to work instead of driving; losing ten minutes of prep time or office time seems to him a benefit of status. “’That’s tenure talking,’” one of his colleagues says. Lang continues: Tenure’s talking to me in the classroom, too. I’m more relaxed in there this semester, less inclined to plot out every minute of every session. I find myself winging it a little bit more, . . . Some classes worked, but some were stinkers. The same goes for my writing. I mention this article for two reasons: one, that it makes me hemlock green with envy, as a person who has never had tenure, nor a tenure-track position, but who has been, as a student, at the mercy of many tenured professors whose absence of classroom time management skills and instructional content preparation have caused there to be great gaps in my learning, forcing me, like many other typical undergraduate and graduate students, to become a self-sufficient learner. The second reason is more specific to this job application, [in that this position is advertised as tenure track.] Having never had the job security of tenure track, indeed having done most of my twenty-five years of professional teaching as a perennial adjunct at the junior college level, or as a one-year instructor, I have always had to “plot out every little minute of every session,” mostly because all I had with my students were contact hours, as most adjuncts or instructors don’t have traditional office hours because most adjuncts don’t even have offices, desks, computers, or even campus telephone numbers. Unlike James Lang, being non-tenured has influenced my teaching style. It has caused me never to take for granted, for instance, any technical support or physical work space that I have been offered, or the opportunity to offer a class website via Blackborad or other CMS. It has caused me to focus solely on my students, never having the opportunity to get involved in departmental intrigue or politics. It has caused me to see teaching at the college level as really just another sort of job, not any better or different than the hours I worked in retail at Target or as a Master Gardener for my small company, First Gardens, or as ‘service provider’ for MaidPro, as a supplement to my meager adjunct paychecks. 1 Lang, James M. “Feeling Different.” The Chronicle of Higher Education (April 28, 2006): C-1. Print. Ferszt 8 It has created solidarity, and not separation, between me and my students; we all come from the same lower middle class kind of place, and have no special status that might divide us as elite vs. un-enfranchised. My teaching philosophy does not come from a place of privilege. Although having graduated from the University of Michigan, I did get my dose of academic elitism. (Our students assume that just because we are educated, we are well-off!). Teaching to me is not about being better than your students, but rather, it’s about flexibility of delivery, personal service and individual instruction, and fidelity to the content area. First, a teacher has to be flexible, and a syllabus has to be mutable, as the tenor of the class requires it. For instance, a paper assignment might be calibrated down if it appears that it is too rigorous per the first set of drafts. Skills need to be re-taught; foundational knowledge can’t be assumed; lectures need to be modified, either in sophistication or level of challenge, or in developmental strategies. Flexibility also involves reasonable accommodations for students with special needs, emergencies, diversity issues, and/or urgent family situations. Next, a teacher needs to provide personal attention to all students, even in a large lecture section. A teacher has to be accessible and available, both in keeping office hours and responding promptly to email. An on-line or mixed-delivery teacher must be especially accessible and vigilant of student questions and concerns. Papers need to be read. Grades need to be posted. Last, a teacher needs to be faithful to the content area. For instance, if the subject taught is American Literature, (or my specific field, Colonial, Contact Period, or Trans-Atlantic Literature), the teacher must know her material, and know it exhaustively. She should be an expert in the field, and should prep for each class according to the texts being covered, (i.e. not just “wing it”). She should also know the proper databases to research in that field, as well as MLA style, document format, and local hard resources, like museums. In summary, I have been extremely lucky to have been able to persist in my vocation, with a few detours and/or “dual enrollments” along the way (i.e. avocational jobs, most recently working for the 2010 U.S. Census in Traverse City, MI). I am always eager to build lesson plans and lectures, to see my students, and to read their papers. Written assignments are the key to assessment in an English class. At this point in my career, having seen the rise of composition/rhetoric, which is now privileged over literature in terms of ‘General Education’ requirements at most colleges or universities, and as a result having taught almost entirely in the composition field, I do feel that I am qualified to apply for and receive a full-time position. I would bring both sides (writing and reading) to the composition classroom, and my students would benefit from both content and theory. I would also look forward to contributing to the Program, the Department, and the College. Ferszt 9 Ferszt 10 Ferszt 11 Ferszt 12 Ferszt 13 Ferszt 14 Ferszt 15 Ferszt 16 Ferszt 17 Ferszt 18 Ferszt 19 Ferszt 20 Provisional Faculty and Newer Adjunct Course Evaluations for Communications -Fall 2009 Instructor Code 251 Course Code 2010 - E !J 6. / J J TR Mean Valid N lOIS -12 I .S- 1. Used a variety of teaching methods to help the student to learn 2. Encouraged and was available for out-of-classroom interaction 3_ Explained and orgamzed course material clearly and in a way that was eas11y understood 4. Demonstrated a caring attitude toward student learning 5_ Explained the importance and significance of the subject matter 4_69 16 4.47 15 4.69 16 4.88 16 4.75 16 4.88 16 4.81 4.81 6. Stimulated students' thinking on the subjed matter 7 Encouraged student discussion and questions 4 60 4.81 8 Used technology effectively in the classroom when appropriate (computer, web, calculator, etc_) 9. Tested students on the most relevant parts of the course material 10_ Gave valuable and effedive feedback on graded assignments so that students could improve their work 11_ Challenged students to reach their highest potential in the course. 12 I had a strong desire to ta .e this course Strongly disagree Moderately disagree Neutral Moderately agree Strongly agree 13 I am more Strongly disagree appreciative of th1s subject area after taking this course Moderately disagree Neutral Moderately agree Strongly agree 14 I would rate the quality of instrudion m this course as excellent Strongly disagree Moderately disagree Neutral Moderately agree Strongly agree 15_ I would rate the overall quality of this course very high Strongly disagree Moderately disagree Neutral Moderately agree Strongly agree 16 How seriously d1d you take this course evaluation? 4.81 2.81 16 16 Count Layer N% 0 0% 0 0% 10 62 5% 31.3% 5 6.3% 1 0 0 0 6 iO 15 16 16 0 0 0 4 16 12 0 0 0 6 10 0% 0% 0% 37.5% 62.5% 0% 0% 0% 25.0% 75.0% 0% 0% 0% 37.5% 62.5% Ferszt 21 Ferszt 22 Mid-semester Course Evaluation Results NMC Communications- Fall 2009 Instructor: Liz Ferszt 2010 ENG 111 1. Please name and discuss some of the most important things you are learning in the class this semester. Something that I have learned a lot more about is writing my papers in correct MLA format, and have learned really good ways to invent better ideas in my writing and find deeper meanings We are learning about inventions and how to invent. Also how to observe and the different relationships Invention. I am learning how to be more inventive. I am asking myself more questions to answer to write more. I learned how cite things. We are doing different projects that makes us think outside the box. We are learning how to take a deeper look on things. MLA format; going in depth when making an observation That everything has deeper meaning The most important thing I am learning is how to invent new & deeper thoughts. I think that the invention questions have improved my writing 110%. It helps me organize my brainstorming. Learning how to use English properly and to learn how to think even deeper than you usually would. Proper MLA format; critical thinking on social issues One thing I have learned so far that I feel is important is how to take a topic that you are writing about and instead of just writing what you already know, you find a new plane on the topic and create new ideas about it. This really has expanded my level of writing. The ability to go in depth in writing "squeeze as much water out as possible" MLA format, writing essays, invention/critical thinking Invention writing; learning the steps to good writing I have learned how to write different styles of writing. The writing inventions projects are new and kind of interesting. I'm actually learning how to write by putting my own opinions into my writing. When in high school, it felt like I was just writing what the teacher wanted to hear. Ferszt 23 3. Which features of the course and my teaching seem to work well? Why? Invention workshops from the book, because the questions asked for us help us explore more ideas The use of Moodie, there is constant access to our agenda, data, and deadlines. The message post seems to work well, because it gets everyone involved in one subject, which produces more thinking. Explaining what the papers are supposed to be about. I really enjoy how we use invention questions to go in more depth about our topics. I also really enjoy having time in class to work on our projects, with a full schedule it helps a lot. The description of what we are to be doing in class & the discussion of it seems to be going ok The way the book gives examples of all the invention questions so we have a starting point for our answers Having different steps of the paper due before the final paper & using the computer lab; putting everything on Moodie; all of this makes it easier for me to get things done & know what I need to fix before the final due date The process of the paper, invention discussions, peer review, paper outlines Writing, then rewriting. It really helps you form an essay when you put a suggested guideline on Moodie for essay writing & the project descriptions are helpful Reviewing papers; discussions on Moodie Just telling me what I should do to improve in an easy, simple way Invention questions & examples from book, it helps me see what my paper should look like Being nice and understanding works well. I feel very comfortable and supported. Most of them. The way you teach and how you guide us through it. Interaction and one-on-one help. What we're going right and wrong, guiding us in the right direction The fact that you give us a good explanation, rubric, and guidelines to follow help me The ability to relate to a teenager's life style Moodie is amazing! I always need or else I get confused on what to do. She gives us many opinions and helps us try and think more and pushes us to go a little deeper in thought. Watch more movies? Because they are very educational Ferszt 24 I wouldn't have anything changed. Do everything the same. The syllabus so it will be consistent and the same so all know what their doing. Nothing! Following the book more than doing what we would like to do Reading passages out of the book is really boring. More descriptive on Moodie pages, hard to understand sometimes Nothing, I enjoy the style in which you teach. Nothing. I like everything how it is. The relationship project. I think a lot of people are struggling with it, maybe a little more explanation? I would ask you to revise the agenda so people have more time to work on projects less reading aloud. I just don't like reading Nothing, but more Moodie the better. So far everything is amazing. Nothing maybe getting more lab time because I think we can do so much in lab. 6. If I were to teach this course again next semester, what one thing would you advise me to definitely NOT change? Why? Keep pushing the correct MLA format! The way you work with us and if we ask things you usually will work with us. It keeps the class enjoyable and stress free. Moodi e Your approach to teaching the subject; it like your teaching style Don't change your rubrics or guidelines, they are very helpful Ferszt 25 Teaching style. Your helpful and that in return helps me get good grades The way you teach The layout of the classes and what is affected because everything is organized and structured Invention questions are much better than brainstorming. It organizes thoughts much better. Keep doing the same thing. It's a good class. Have fun. Don't waste time but have fun. It's a fast-paced course, but you get to learn how to write in different ways. Get Dr. Ferszt, she's really good. YES© That you are a good teacher, and it's an enjoyable class. Ferszt 26 Ferszt 27 Ferszt 28