Sarah Pedzinski
Instructional Consultant
Indiana University Bloomington
Sarah Pedzinski
I believe classrooms can change lives in meaningful and rewarding ways. This, in short, is why I teach. Within this online portfolio, you'll find a personal statement explaining my teaching ethos, example syllabi, and my own reflections on the grading process. My teaching philosophy is reflected strongly throughout. Pedagogy is a reflective process, so feel free to contact me with any questions.
SP
Active steps towards becoming a better instructor
Recognition & Awards
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Lieber Memorial Associate Instructor Award (2022)
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Culbertson Teaching Award (2020)
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Carl H. Ziegler Teaching Award (2019)
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Culbertson Teaching Portfolio Award (2018)
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Additional Experience
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Graduate Teaching Apprenticeship Program (2021)
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Teaching for Student Success: An Evidence-Based Approach (2020)
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Research on incorporating medieval manuscripts into the undergraduate classroom (2019)
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Practicum on Teaching Composition (2018)
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Special Topics in Teaching German (2018)
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Teaching Experience
ENG-L204: Introduction to Fiction
Fall 2021
As a course that fulfills both a general humanities credit and an intensive writing credit, Introduction to Fiction asks students to work towards an appreciation for a wide variety of fictional texts spanning genre and time period by instructing them on critically reading and analyzing fiction, writing analytical arguments about fictional texts, and demonstrate a critical understanding of genre. My own section of this class includes 17 short stories and one novel alongside a narratology textbook. The fiction texts range in publication date from 1886 to 2019 and include authors from American, South American, Caribbean, Western Europe, and Africa.
English W131 Basic Writing
Spring 2019 - Summer 2021
English W131 Basic Writing is a variant of the mandatory composition credit at IU, but designed for students who struggle with analytical writing. In order to enroll in Basic Writing, students must have a documented score of either 1-22 on the ACT English section or 200-540 on the SAT EBRW section. Basic writing walks students step-by-step through different methods of written analysis including summary, evaluation, explanation, proposal, and position essays.
CLLC-L 110 Wretched Worlds: Dystopias in Fiction
Fall 2019
Wretched Worlds: Dystopias in Fiction is a self-designed course selected to be taught by the Board of Educational Programming at the Collins Living Learning Center at Indiana University. The course works with a variety of visual and textual medias in order to answer the following central questions: What is a dystopian text? What extent do dystopian texts have impact on the world around them? Finally, why are audiences, particularly young audiences, so fascinated with dystopian texts? Course texts include "The Land of Cockayne," Black Mirror, 1984, "The Lottery," Brave New World, and The Hunger Games among many others.
English W131 Reading, Writing, and Inquiry
Fall 2017 - Fall 2018
English W131 Reading, Writing, and Inquiry is a required course at Indiana University Bloomington. It focuses on teaching students skills of summary and analysis in order to improve their writing (and thinking) practices and prepare them for the remainder of their courses at the university. The university allows us to theme our sections of W131, and my particular section analyzes the role of the monstrous in society.
Educational Background
PhD, Indiana University
Bloomington, IN
2019-2022
Doctorate of Philosophy in English Literature. Specialization: Medieval Literature. Research Focus: dragons, world orders and taxonomies, heroics, Old English and Old Norse languages and literatures. Doctoral minor: Medieval Studies. Languages: French, Latin, German, Old Norse.
MA, Indiana University
Bloomington, IN
2016-2019
Master of Arts in English Literature. Specialization: Medieval Literature.
BA, Hanover College
Hanover, IN
2012-2016
Double English & French major. Cumulative GPA: 3.75. Graduated magna cum laude. Undergraduate theses: The Accidental Hero, A Look into the Title Character of Havelok the Dane and Compétent pour ce poste: Le personnage éponyme dans la Chanson de Roland et les éléments qui font de lui un "hero"
"The job of an educator is to teach students to see vitality in themselves."