Documenting your Accomplishments Dr. Beth Brunk-ChavezElectronic Teaching PortfolioOctober 7, 2009

What it isA picture of who you are as an instructorClassroom, mentoring, related research, workshops, and so onSelf-promotion A significant part of who you are as a university citizen

A picture of who you are as an instructor

Classroom, mentoring, related research, workshops, and so on

Self-promotion

A significant part of who you are as a university citizen

Why is it so important?Sell yourself as a good instructor, hard worker, reliable, someone who cares about teachingDistinguish yourself from other applicants

Sell yourself as a good instructor, hard worker, reliable, someone who cares about teaching

Distinguish yourself from other applicants

What it tells committeesHow good a fit you are How committed you areHow good of a writer you areWhat you have accomplishedWhat you hope to do and become

How good a fit you are

How committed you are

How good of a writer you are

What you have accomplished

What you hope to do and become

What not to doDON’TBe too personalWrite about inappropriate topicsBe too modestOr, be too braggyUse clichés Dwell on weaknesses

Be too personal

Write about inappropriate topics

Be too modest

Or, be too braggy

Use clichés

Dwell on weaknesses

What to doUse detailAddress weaknessesFocus on the opening paragraphBe interesting and personableTell a story/create a themeWrite concisely and correctlyFollow guidelines. If it asks for 2 pages, don’t send 3.

Use detail

Address weaknesses

Focus on the opening paragraph

Be interesting and personable

Tell a story/create a theme

Write concisely and correctly

Follow guidelines.

If it asks for 2 pages, don’t send 3.

Getting startedRead instructions carefully—schools may ask for different things:Personal statementStatement of interestResearch agendaTeaching philosophy

Read instructions carefully—schools may ask for different things:

Personal statement

Statement of interest

Research agenda

Teaching philosophy

Getting startedDo researchOn the disciplineOn the programOn the facultyOn the current studentsOn the graduated students

Do research

On the discipline

On the program

On the faculty

On the current students

On the graduated students

Use a writing processBrainstorm, invent, draw maps, free write, draw picturesDraft quicklyReviseHave someone read itRevise moreRevise againEditHave someone read it

Brainstorm, invent, draw maps, free write, draw pictures

Draft quickly

Revise

Have someone read it

Revise more

Revise again

Edit

Have someone read it

Language ChoicesUse “I”—but don’t overuse itUse active voice/present tenseNot too casual, not too formal

Use “I”—but don’t overuse it

Use active voice/present tense

Not too casual, not too formal

Nice touchesMention several faculty by nameMention something about what current students are working on or publications of former students

Mention several faculty by name

Mention something about what current students are working on or publications of former students