Alison D. Smith's Page

Education

Masters of Arts in English University of Central Florida Fall 2003
(Composition Studies, Disability Studies, Nonfiction)
Thesis: “Hearing Voices: Locating a Feminist Home for Real Women’s Narratives About Mental Illness” Successful thesis defense: July 2003
Bachelors of Arts in English University of Central Florida Summer 1997

Related Work Experience

Adjunct of Composition I and II Valencia Community College Fall 2005-Present
Adjunct of Composition I and II Seminole Community College Fall 2007-Present
Composition I focus on basic tenets of critical reading and writing skills needed in college-level academic writing. Students come to know different genres of writing: memoir, commentary, review, and argument. Classes often viewed through the lenses of social justice issues, world issues, and contemporary culture via assigned online readings and textbooks. Multiple online components are required for successful completion of this course and use of technology is mandatory. MLA skills introduced here to ensure the definitions of plagiarism established for a final research assignment requiring an annotated bibliography. Composition II rooted in various forms of anthologized literature and advanced research skills. Students not only required to utilize textbooks but also critically examine texts such as Brutal Imagination, The Things They Carried, V for Vendetta, Smashed, and Me Talk Pretty One Day. Examine plot, characterization, settings, use of language, literary criticism, etc. Seminar classroom settings always present in all classes and students are required to work in groups as well as individual presentations on assigned readings to see balance and need between speech and writing.

Senior Instructional Writing Assistant Consultant Valencia Community College Fall 2002-Present
Work with all levels of writers: EAP students, Prep students, Composition students, Humanities students, etc. in the Writing Center. Grammar, speaking/pronunciation, organization, and MLA skills are the concentrations. Assigned by supervisor to work one-on-one with individuals each semester for Intensive Writing Tutorial. Spend time in both the reading/writing and speech labs and assist students with assigned work and practice material. Both Writing Center and labs treated like extension of classroom.

Visiting Instructor of Composition University of Central Florida Spring 2004-2007
Critical thinking, reading, and writing skills emphasized. Fixed themes college-wide where students became familiar with historical events related to the current cultural climates via assigned novel or memoir such The Kite Runner and Black White and Jewish. Instructed students to connect writing and speaking by several oral presentations. Use of technology always mandatory. Sat on textbook selection committee and rubric committee. Encouraged service learning and its connection to college life, writing, and reading. Was second highest in department for instructor evaluations.

Adjunct of Women’s Studies University of Central Florida Fall 2004-Fall 2005
Selected to work outside the English Department and teach an Intro class where women and other minority issues were focus. Service learning and use of technology mandatory.

Adjunct of Essay Writing Columbus College of Art Spring 1999-Fall 1999
Focused on various levels of writing and reading skills. Oral presentations highlighted instructor curriculum.

Other Academic and Work Experience

•Librarian Assistant: University of Central Florida Library Audio Visual Department (2000)
•Writing Center Consultant: University of Central Florida (2000-2002)
•Graduate Research Assistant: University of Central Florida (1998)
•Graduate Grader for the College of Business: University of Central Florida (1998)
•Assistant Editor of The Cypress Dome (1997)


Awards, Academic Appointments, and Volunteer Work

Mid-Atlantic Popular/American Culture Association Area Chair for Disability Studies
(2005-2008)
Mid-Atlantic Popular/American Culture Association Area Chair for Activism
(2006-2008)
Clothesline Project Coordinator University of Central Florida
(2005)
Composition Committee for First Year Writing Program University of Central Florida
(Fall 2002-2005)
Essay Contest Committee University of Central Florida
(Spring 2003)
Diversity Institute Participant University of Central Florida
(Summer 2001, 2003-2005)
Winter Conference Participant (Composition Studies) University of Central Florida
(2005, 2006)
Summer Conference Participant (Service Learning) University of Central Florida
(2007)

Conference Paper Presentations

“A Space of Our Own: Myspace and Feminist Activism in the Classroom,” MAPACA Annual Conference, October 2006; Baltimore, Maryland

“Interrupted Narratives: Susanna Kaysen’s Girl, Interrupted , Blurred Boundaries, and Power,” MAPACA Annual Conference, November 2005; New Brunswick, New Jersey

“Homelessness and Identity Construction: Building a Feminist Home in Ability and Disability,” MELUS 17th Annual Conference, April 2003; Boca Raton, Florida

“Feminist Theories’ Silencing of Insanity: Contemporary Women’s Autobiographical Accounts of Madness as More Than Resistance Narratives,” The International Feminism(s) and Rhetoric(s) Conference, Millikin University, October 2001; Decatur, Illinois

“Hearing Voices: Labeling and (Re?)Locating a Feminist Home in Mental Illness for Marya Hornbacher’s Wasted,” The International Conference on Language and Literature, Texas A&M University, October 2000; College Station, Texas


Current Academic and Research Interests

Technology and Social Networking: Identity Formation
Queer Theory
Feminist Theories
Composition Theories/Studies
Disability Studies
Multicultural Studies
Service Learning
Distance Learning