Dan Melzer
Professor and Director of First-Year Composition
University Writing Program
University of California, Davis
dlmelzer@ucdavis.edu
Consulting Experience
I've provided writing and reading across the curriculum workshops for research universities such as Stanford University, North Carolina State University, and University of Michigan; universities focused on teaching such as Rhode Island College, Cal State Fullerton, and Arizona Western College; and community colleges such as Finger Lakes Community College, Southwestern Community College, and Sierra Community College. I've also facilitated workshops at high schools such as New Community High School West Hills, Will Wood High School, Chavez High School, and Loyalton High School. I've taught at community colleges, teaching institutions, and a research university, and I'm familiar with a variety of institutional contexts. I have two decades of experience facilitating writing across the curriculum faculty development activities. I've facilitated workshops for faculty across disciplines, first-year composition teachers, and writing center tutors and consulted with university administrators, General Education committees, and writing task forces on the design and development of sustainable Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) programs. My areas of expertise include writing assignment design, response to student writing, writing assessment, multiliteracies, and writing program development and leadership.
I believe that WAC should focus on sustainable faculty development, strategic curricular reform, and transformational change to campus cultures of writing. Because of this belief, when I visit institutions as a consultant or workshop leader, I try to work with campus stakeholders to ensure that my visit helps meet strategic goals for WAC development. For example, in addition to providing faculty development activities, when I visit institutions I often meet with additional stakeholders such as campus writing or General Education committees, administrative leaders such as Principals or Deans or Provosts, department chairs, graduate students who are interested in teaching writing, writing center tutors, etc. I can assist campus leaders in developing sustainable and impactful writing programs, ranging from initiatives such as department or campus writing requirements, faculty development programs, course designs, and writing assessment and placement.
Types of Services
One to two hour presentations: A workshop and/or scholarly talk focused on one aspect of reading and writing. For example, implementing a Writing Across the Curriculum program or time-saving techniques for responding to student writing.
Half-day workshops: Interactive workshops focused on one or more reading and writing topics, such as designing writing assignments, responding to student writing, teaching writing with technology, etc.
Full-day workshops: Full-day workshops can cover a wide range of reading and writing topics. For example, designing formal writing assignments and informal writing-to-learn assignments in the morning and designing reading assignments and responding to student writing in the afternoon.
Retreats: Faculty development retreats typically occur over two to three days, and can cover a wide range of topics. Faculty retreats are an intensive experience, and faculty are often asked to create and share writing assignments and syllabi.
Consultations: In addition to presenting workshops, I can provide a consultation visit for institutions looking to create or further develop a Writing Across the Curriculum program. During a consultation I will meet with faculty and administrative stakeholders and prepare a report after my visit. A consultation can be done in conjunction with a scholarly talk and/or faculty development workshop.
Possible Workshop Topics
Designing Engaging Writing Assignments
Informal Writing Assignments: Writing to Learn
Teaching Research Projects
Helping Students Read Difficult Texts
Responding to Student Writing More Efficiently and Effectively
Handling the Paper Load
Successful Peer Response
Collaborative Learning and Group Projects
Designing and Using Rubrics
Meaningful Writing Assessment
Developing a Writing Across the Curriculum Program
What is Writing Across the Curriculum?
Video of My Talk and Workshop on Building Sustainable Writing Intensive Programs and Designing Writing Assignments for Arizona Western College
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K09vuenieQ&feature=youtu.be (WI talk ends and writing assignment workshop begins at 36 minutes)
Podcast interview for the University of Michigan's Sweetland Writing Center Topics in Writing podcast series
https://lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/graduates/fellows-seminar/topics-in-writing-podcast.html?fbclid=IwAR34cd_eSx6u6zj_u4XQdDoKZZQMMJxreZAjXgHnMPrBBrctzQSj2Ty0utk
Professor and Director of First-Year Composition
University Writing Program
University of California, Davis
dlmelzer@ucdavis.edu
Consulting Experience
I've provided writing and reading across the curriculum workshops for research universities such as Stanford University, North Carolina State University, and University of Michigan; universities focused on teaching such as Rhode Island College, Cal State Fullerton, and Arizona Western College; and community colleges such as Finger Lakes Community College, Southwestern Community College, and Sierra Community College. I've also facilitated workshops at high schools such as New Community High School West Hills, Will Wood High School, Chavez High School, and Loyalton High School. I've taught at community colleges, teaching institutions, and a research university, and I'm familiar with a variety of institutional contexts. I have two decades of experience facilitating writing across the curriculum faculty development activities. I've facilitated workshops for faculty across disciplines, first-year composition teachers, and writing center tutors and consulted with university administrators, General Education committees, and writing task forces on the design and development of sustainable Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) programs. My areas of expertise include writing assignment design, response to student writing, writing assessment, multiliteracies, and writing program development and leadership.
I believe that WAC should focus on sustainable faculty development, strategic curricular reform, and transformational change to campus cultures of writing. Because of this belief, when I visit institutions as a consultant or workshop leader, I try to work with campus stakeholders to ensure that my visit helps meet strategic goals for WAC development. For example, in addition to providing faculty development activities, when I visit institutions I often meet with additional stakeholders such as campus writing or General Education committees, administrative leaders such as Principals or Deans or Provosts, department chairs, graduate students who are interested in teaching writing, writing center tutors, etc. I can assist campus leaders in developing sustainable and impactful writing programs, ranging from initiatives such as department or campus writing requirements, faculty development programs, course designs, and writing assessment and placement.
Types of Services
One to two hour presentations: A workshop and/or scholarly talk focused on one aspect of reading and writing. For example, implementing a Writing Across the Curriculum program or time-saving techniques for responding to student writing.
Half-day workshops: Interactive workshops focused on one or more reading and writing topics, such as designing writing assignments, responding to student writing, teaching writing with technology, etc.
Full-day workshops: Full-day workshops can cover a wide range of reading and writing topics. For example, designing formal writing assignments and informal writing-to-learn assignments in the morning and designing reading assignments and responding to student writing in the afternoon.
Retreats: Faculty development retreats typically occur over two to three days, and can cover a wide range of topics. Faculty retreats are an intensive experience, and faculty are often asked to create and share writing assignments and syllabi.
Consultations: In addition to presenting workshops, I can provide a consultation visit for institutions looking to create or further develop a Writing Across the Curriculum program. During a consultation I will meet with faculty and administrative stakeholders and prepare a report after my visit. A consultation can be done in conjunction with a scholarly talk and/or faculty development workshop.
Possible Workshop Topics
Designing Engaging Writing Assignments
Informal Writing Assignments: Writing to Learn
Teaching Research Projects
Helping Students Read Difficult Texts
Responding to Student Writing More Efficiently and Effectively
Handling the Paper Load
Successful Peer Response
Collaborative Learning and Group Projects
Designing and Using Rubrics
Meaningful Writing Assessment
Developing a Writing Across the Curriculum Program
What is Writing Across the Curriculum?
Video of My Talk and Workshop on Building Sustainable Writing Intensive Programs and Designing Writing Assignments for Arizona Western College
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K09vuenieQ&feature=youtu.be (WI talk ends and writing assignment workshop begins at 36 minutes)
Podcast interview for the University of Michigan's Sweetland Writing Center Topics in Writing podcast series
https://lsa.umich.edu/sweetland/graduates/fellows-seminar/topics-in-writing-podcast.html?fbclid=IwAR34cd_eSx6u6zj_u4XQdDoKZZQMMJxreZAjXgHnMPrBBrctzQSj2Ty0utk
