The seminar begins in the second week of fall term and continues for six weeks. For the first hour the entire class is engaged in general discussions. After a break for conversation and refreshments, we meet in two smaller groups to discuss more specific issues and course materials. Because the majority of the graduate students enrolled in the seminar are teaching in fall term courses, their teaching experiences and course materials are central to our discussions. Each summer about 30 graduate students participate in an apprenticeship program offered in conjunction with Writing 700.
Interns receive a summer-support stipend.
Course leaders During the academic year, faculty members from departments offering First-Year Writing Seminars act as course leaders for all graduate students who are teaching seminars. Course leaders continue the support and training begun in Writing 700 by holding regular staff meetings, visiting classes, reviewing papers comments, and so on. Course leaders and graduate students receive a full description of the program at the beginning of each semester. TAs submit their proposals directly to their course leader, who in turn submits them to the Knight Institute for consideration. The Head TA must be an experienced teacher of First-Year Writing Seminars.