Teaching Philosophy

You can find a pdf version of this prompt here: Teaching Philosophy Prompt PDF

The Assignment

You will compose a teaching philosophy statement of 1000–1200 words that articulates your vision for instruction and writing. Writing in first person, you should move beyond abstract principles to ground your beliefs in the specific practices, decisions, and moments that define your teaching. Your statement should be organized into clear sections or paragraphs that address different dimensions of your philosophy — such as how you think about writing, your role as a teacher, your approach to feedback, or how you design learning experiences — and each dimension should be illustrated with concrete examples drawn from your own teaching or observations. The goal is not to produce a comprehensive catalog of everything you believe, but to offer a coherent, reflective account of what guides you when you walk into a classroom.

Guiding Questions to Consider

As you develop your teaching philosophy, consider the following questions — not as a checklist, but as starting points for reflection:

• What kind of writing happens in your discipline, and what do students need to understand about writing in order to participate in that disciplinary community?
• What do you believe about how students best learn to write, and what conditions make that learning possible?
• Which pedagogical theories or approaches from our readings (or beyond) have shaped your thinking, and how do they show up in your actual practice?
• How do your beliefs translate into the specific choices you make — in assignment design, feedback, classroom interactions, or how you structure writing into your course?
• How does your philosophy address issues of equity, linguistic justice, and accessibility? What does an inclusive writing classroom look like in practice?
• What is your role as an instructor, and how do you understand the relationship between teacher and student?
• What makes your approach distinctive — and what values or commitments are non-negotiable for you?

Remember, a teaching philosophy is not static—it evolves as you gain experience and encounter new ideas. This assignment is an opportunity to articulate your current thinking while recognizing that your philosophy will continue to develop.