The Department of Comparative Literature gives continuing attention to the pedagogical training of GSIs. While teaching assignments will vary according to the progress of students within the doctoral program, enrollment patterns in Comparative Literature, and the availability of courses in GSI appointments in other units, the Department is committed to creating a community for Comparative Literature students to share their teaching experiences and to think together about developing and teaching courses effectively. GSIs will receive training, mentoring and feedback in various forms:
CRLT GSI Orientation. The Center for Research on Learning and Teaching organizes a two-day GSI Orientation at the end of August. All Comparative Literature students are expected to attend this general orientation at least once. If you are scheduled to teach for the first time, be sure to arrange to be back in Ann Arbor at least one full week before classes begin so that you can attend this training.
GSI Training. Comparative Literature students receive more specialized GSI training in the unit where they are assigned to teach. Please note, GSI’s teaching English 125 for the first time are required to attend workshops organized by the English Department Writing Program (EDWP) in April and in late August; they also receive support in the form of Mentoring Groups in the English Department. GSI’s doing language instruction are supervised by Lecturers in the language departments, and may be required to register for a pedagogy course. GSI’s leading discussion sections for Great Books attend weekly GSI meetings with the faculty member teaching the course, and the DGS will arrange for additional GSI mentoring for Great Books as needed.
GSI Mentoring Meeting in Comparative Literature. A general GSI mentoring meeting on pedagogy is organized once a year by the DUS in late April, introducing students to a range of topics (developing course description and objectives, creating lesson plans, leading discussion, structuring writing assignments, commenting on papers, etc.). Please note, GSIs who are preparing to teach for Comparative Literature or Great Books in the following year are required to attend the GSI Mentoring Meeting in April, and all other GSIs are encouraged to participate, regardless of the courses they are assigned to teach, as an opportunity to discuss their teaching experiences and exchange ideas.
Comparative Literature Syllabus Workshops. The DUS schedules syllabus workshops for discussion and final revision of syllabi submitted by GSIs before the Fall term and again before the Winter term. Please note, participation in syllabus workshops is required for all GSIs who are teaching Comparative Literature courses; other Comparative Literature students are welcome and encouraged to participate as well.
Classroom visits. The DUS will schedule classroom visits as needed from Comparative Literature faculty members to give feedback to GSIs who are teaching Comparative Literature courses. We also encourage all GSIs to make arrangements with CRLT for “Midterm Student Feedback,” which involves scheduling a visit from a CRLT consultant, who will observe a class meeting and then talk informally with the students taking the course in order to provide feedback to the GSI. Please note, GSIs are required to schedule a CRLT visit if they are teaching a course in Comparative Literature for the first time. GSIs will also benefit from visiting each other’s classes for informal observation, and they are welcome to ask faculty members in Comparative Literature about the possibility of visiting one of their undergraduate courses taught by faculty. Finally, it is a good idea to ask a member of your dissertation committee to visit one of your classes so that a description of your teaching can be included as part of a letter of recommendation.
Course Evaluations. For the purpose of academic advising and GSI mentoring, course evaluations (E&E forms) for GSIs are kept on file in the Comparative Literature Office, and instructors should maintain their own record as well, especially in cases where teaching is outside of Complit. An electronic copy should be submitted to the SSvC for record keeping. These may be used for the purpose of feedback on teaching, academic advising, GSI assignments, and nominations for fellowships and awards.
Nominations for Outstanding GSI Awards. In November, faculty and students are invited to nominate GSIs for the Rackham Outstanding GSI Award. GSIs who are nominated for this award will be contacted by the SSvC to submit supporting materials by December. The Graduate Committee will then review nominations and select candidates to be forwarded for consideration by Rackham, giving priority to more advanced students with longer teaching records.
