Hi, Bill-- Unfortunately, I won't have enough time to pose a question using passive voice sentences. The question-and-answer period will be conducted with the other members of the search committee and will last for about an hour, each of us asking scripted questions of the candidates. I agree that simply asking "What is the role of grammar in the composition classroom?" will be perceived as a loaded question. But what kinds of non-threatening questions could be asked that would give me and the other members of the committee a good assessment of the candidate's views on this matter? Any suggestions are welcome. Ben Varner > Ben, > > It's quite possible to have someone who places a very high importance on > grammar (or anything else) but is still unable to connect it to teaching > practice in ways beneficial to students. I think you might get a good > idea of the candidate's grasp of the subject and how s/he can put that > knowledge into practice by starting with a realistic example or two and > asking how s/he would deal with it in a classroom setting, especially if > it's an example that lets you link whatever grammatical issue is > involved to a larger rhetorical issue. > > For example, asking a candidate how s/he goes about discussing passive > sentences with students (or even better, starting with a piece of actual > writing with clumsy passives in it) could let you gauge not only whether > s/he knows what they are, but whether s/he knows that whether they're > "good" or not is tied to the context and purpose of writing. Of course, > this is all supposing that you have the time to pose that kind of > question and get a considered response. > > Just from what personal experience I've had (as a candidate and as a > member of search committees) candidates show up already tense, and a > question like, "What do you think the role of grammar is in the > composition classroom?" is likely to trigger an "Ack! That's a loaded > question! They want some kind of code phrase! What do I do??!!" > response. > > Bill Spruiell > Dept. of English > Central Michigan University To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/