Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Methods of Teaching Writing (Face-to-Face)

ENGL 2900-01

Course: ENGL 2900-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: ENGL
CRN: 12160

Course Description

An introductory workshop for English majors and minors with a teaching emphasis. Students are expected to read and discuss scholarship related to major pedagogical theories and to make practical applications of those theories. (Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): ENGL 2010 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C-

Required Texts

Course Materials
Doug Lemov Teach Like a Champion 3.0 ISBN: 1119712619
Deborah Dean Strategic Writing: The Process and Beyond in the Secondary English Classroom ISBN: 0814147559
Background Check for Iron County School District 

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes
Apply Writing Theories and Research

  • Translate key theoretical principles and research-based findings in writing pedagogy into actionable teaching strategies for diverse learners.

Design Writing Instruction and Materials

  • Construct original, evidence-based instructional materials, including lesson plans and assignment prompts, that reflect CCWS.

Model the Writing Process

  • Demonstrate the cognitive and creative processes of writing, including planning, drafting, and revising.

Facilitate Rhetorical Awareness

  • Teach students how to adapt their writing style, tone, and structure to meet the needs of specific audiences, purposes, and generic conventions.

Course Requirements


Course Requirements
In-class attendance and participation: 300 points (30%)

  • These will mostly be submitted in class work on Lemov’s chapters. These can only be submitted in class on the day we discuss the techniques.
Practicum attendance and participation: 200 points (20%)
  • The points will be earned by completing specific lesson plans, contributing to class planning, and attendance during the school visits. 
Lesson plans: 300 (30%)
  • We will be completing 15 lesson plans throughout the semester. These will be compiled in an individual google doc portfolio AND a class google doc to share. 
Final genre assignment portfolio and presentation: 20%
  • This will be a semester-long assignment and includes a proposal, at least one draft for peer review, a completion of the assignment, a rubric for grading the assignment, and a class presentation for this assignment. 

Course Outline

Course Outline
Tentative Calendar
(This is a tentative schedule and can change at the discretion of the instructor based on the needs of the class. Please attend class and read Canvas Announcements for updates all semester)
Week 1
January 8- Welcome/ Syllabus review
Week 2
13-Activity/ Lesson Plans/Writing Standards/ Read Lemov Ch. 1 (pgs 1-26)
15-Lesson Plans cont./ Assignment Review/ CCWS intro
Week 3 
20-Lemov 41: Art of the Sentence / Final Project Discussion
22- Lemov 38: Everybody Writes / Lemov 39: Silent Solo/ Final Project Proposal due 
Week 4
27- Dean Ch. 1/ Lesson Plan #1: Audience- Build together
29- Lesson Plan #2: Purpose- Build in groups- present
Week 5
February 3-Lemov 40: Front the Writing/  Dean Ch. 2
5- Lesson Plan #3: Textual Summaries/ Lemov 2: Plan for Error
Week 6
10- Lesson Plan #4: 6+1 Traits/ Lemov 4: Double Plan
12- Lesson Plan #5: Planning and Brainstorming/ Final Project Roundtable 
Week 7
17- Lemov 12: Culture of Error/ Lesson Plan #6: Drafting/Organizing
19- Lesson Plan #7: Peer Reviews/ Dean Ch. 3 
Week 8
24-Lesson Plan #8: Providing Feedback- 6 Positive and 6 Not Quite/ Lemov 14: Own and Track
26-Lemov 13: Show Call/ Dean ch. 4
Week 9
March 3- Dean Ch. 5/ Lesson Plan #9: Style/ Lesson Plan #10: Revising/Rewriting/ School Visit Prep
5-Proposed School Visit (dependant on teacher) 
Week 10-
10-Spring Break- No class
12-Spring Break- No class
Week 11
17-Dean Ch. 6/ Lesson Plan #11: Citations/ Lesson Plan #12: Sentence Fluency/ School Visit Prep
19-Proposed School Visit (dependant on teacher) 
Week 12
24-Peer review for Final/ School Visit Prep
26-Proposed School Visit (dependant on teacher) 
Week 13
31- Lesson Plan #13: TBD/ School Visit Prep
April 2-Proposed School Visit (dependant on teacher) 
Week 14
7- Lesson Plan #14: TBD/ Lemov 42: Regular Revision
9- Lesson Plan #15: TBD / Lemov 63: Joy Factor
Week 15
14- Presentations
16- Presentations
Week 16 Finals week
Portfolio due for Individual Lesson Plans and Final Due April 20 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work


Late Work and Re-submissions


Late participation/discussion assignments will be penalized 10% per day and assignments will close one week after the due date.


Peer Review drafts are not accepted late due to the nature of the assignment. 


Re-submissions for any assignment are only accepted with instructor approval and only in extreme circumstances. Any assignment re-submitted will be graded at the end of the semester.


Attendance Policy


Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend class as this is a traditional face to face class. In-class work and participation cannot be excused or made up. University excused classes must be discussed with instructor a week prior to the absence. 


Course Fees

$12 Course Fee

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.