| Welcome to |
Gavilan College English Department |
|---|---|
Contact Information |
Cheryl Chaffin (Please note: The best way to reach me is via email. I do not check phone mail on a regular basis.) |
| Academic Background | I have an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. BA from San Jose State University. I have been with Gavilan College since 2001. Currently I'm a Ph.D. candidate in Humanities with Union Institute & University. |
| Areas of Expertise | Creative writing; memoir & autobiography; contemporary literature; critical thinking and textual analysis; ESL and second language learners; openness to diverse student experiences and backgrounds. |
| Courses Taught | In Fall 2008 I will teach one section of English 1A online and one section of English 1C online . I've also taught English 420, 440, 250, and 1B with Gavilan. |
| Teaching Approach | Students in my courses write essays, poetry, and narratives. We focus on good literature -- novels, memoirs, essays, and poems while developing our own writing. Emphasis is on clarity of thought and expression and improvement in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Students are encouaged to express and deepen their ideas and questions (both in writing and reading). Also emphasized is learning to speak and share aloud (and/or in online forums) and to feel increasingly confident about learning in community and articulating one's mind to others. |