Documenting your Accomplishments

Dr. Beth Brunk-Chavez

Electronic Teaching Portfolio

October 7, 2009

© The University of Texas at El Paso

What it is

• 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

© The University of Texas at El Paso

Why is it so important?

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

• Distinguish yourself from other applicants

© The University of Texas at El Paso

What it tells committees

• 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

© The University of Texas at El Paso

What not to do

DON’T• Be too personal• Write about inappropriate topics• Be too modest• Or, be too braggy• Use clichés • Dwell on weaknesses

© The University of Texas at El Paso

What to do

• 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.

© The University of Texas at El Paso

Getting started

• Read instructions carefully—schools may ask for different things:• Personal statement• Statement of interest• Research agenda• Teaching philosophy

© The University of Texas at El Paso

Getting started

• Do research• On the discipline• On the program• On the faculty• On the current students• On the graduated students

© The University of Texas at El Paso

Use a writing process

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

• Draft quickly• Revise• Have someone read it• Revise more• Revise again• Edit• Have someone read it

© The University of Texas at El Paso

Language Choices

• Use “I”—but don’t overuse it• Use active voice/present tense• Not too casual, not too formal

© The University of Texas at El Paso

Nice touches

• Mention several faculty by name• Mention something about what

current students are working on or publications of former students