Argues that most doctoral training in English departments is concentrated on requirements, credentials, and the accumulation of a diversified portfolio. Emphasizes the need to discuss the scope of the doctoral enterprise and to explore the values that make such an enterprise worthwhile. (RS)

Describes how English department chairs might successfully order and structure their departments. Analyzes two central characteristics of English departments as political entities: purpose and values. Lists several observations about departmental organization. (HB)

Considers how one composition instructor's methods of assigning student writing tasks and then responding to those texts was altered by various works written by composition scholars. Outlines 10 of the major achievements of composition research over the past 30 years. (HB)

Considers how departments of English can evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum and teaching throughout the entire program. Outlines the way that the joint English department at the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University developed a full-scale assessment program for the undergraduate major. (HB)

Discusses the psychological impact of chairing an English department in a time of shrinking resources. Provides advice for department heads faced with budget cuts. (HB)

Defends the exclusion of Shakespeare course requirements for the English Department at Indiana University by explaining that "Shakespeare can take care of himself"--students will sign up for as many Shakespeare classes as offered. Presents opposing obstacles and objectives to this curricular decision. (SC)

Uses the example of service learning to examine connections between and definitions of public and private as they are deployed in writing, literacy studies, and the field of English. Argues that, done effectively, service learning fits well into an English Studies that is reconsidering its own boundaries and internal relationships. (RS)

At present, the composition program at San Diego State is located in two departments. The Academic Skills Center offers pre-baccalaureate courses for basic writers and developmental ESL writers. The Department of English and Comparative Literature offers most of the required general education two-semester sequence, advanced composition courses,…

A 1987 survey of college English departments revealed that only 74 (38%) of the 194 colleges surveyed offered students the opportunity to specialize in some aspect of writing in addition to literature. A 1992 survey showed that 69% of departments had begun to offer this specialization. Respondents outlined possibilities for organizing and…

As English departments face the 90s and beyond, the pressure will only rise to define and justify the role of the English professor in the academy. Three current debates suggest the indeterminate future of English departments, which now represent a multi-faceted discipline. First, the canon debate must be resolved; second, the teaching role of the…

The Department of English at Wayne State University is planning to introduce a doctoral program directed to the processes involved in the composition of expository prose. Students admitted to the program will be trained primarily in linguistics and cognitive psychology, though they will also work in communication theory and rhetorical analysis.…

The official position on the workload of college teachers of English adopted by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) discusses factors bearing upon the determination of a reasonable teaching schedule. Evaluation of student composition, grading fatigue, class size, conference hours, research, committees, clubs, lectures, and class…

Outlines responsibilities of an English department chairperson in many areas, including writing promotion and tenure recommendations, explaining the department's activities to the administration, creating and maintaining an effective environment, creating a sense of individual dignity and worth among faculty members, developing a sense of…

States that the basis of the functional illiteracy problem lies in the fact that high school teachers are trained in literature rather than in language, i.e., competent reading, writing, listening to, and speaking the English language. Believes the high school English teacher training program should be given over to a new faculty committed to the…