Teaching Materials and Student Feedback

Previously Taught Courses

ENGL 104: Composition and Rhetoric

A core course focused on referential and persuasive researched essays through the development of analytical reading ability, critical thinking, and library research skills. Learning goals for this course include: (1) Focus on constructing arguments grounded in verifiable, (mostly) unbiased data; (2) Practice objective analysis and evaluation of issues in order to make informed perceptions; and (3) Use academic sources and resources to inform those perceptions and arguments.

ENGL 203: Writing about Literature // Black Adaptations of Shakespeare in the 20th & 21st Centuries

 A core course where students explore how genre conventions speak to current and past social moments. This particular course focused on Shakespearean adaptations of the 20th and 21st centuries, paying attention to the Black artists and philosophers on these adaptations. Major questions of the course included: (1) What is the Black experience, (2) How does Shakespeare understand race, and (3) How do artists utilize adaptation to express their understanding of Blackness within their specific communities?

ENGL 203: Writing about Literature // Global Othellos: A Transnational Survey of Shakespeare’s “Race-Play”

A core course in which students learn how genre conventions speak to current and past social moments. This particular course focused on notions of adaptation by exploring what “adaptation” is, how artists employ this practice, and how different socio-cultural groups interpret these texts. By engaging with 6 different iterations of the Othello story, from Shakespeare's text to Toni Morrison's Desdemona (2011), students sought to answer the following questions: (1) What is an "adaptation," (2) What does it mean to "adapt" a text, (3) Is there such a thing as a "good" or "bad" adaptation, and how might it be identified, (4) What methods might different authors employ to adapt a text, and (5) How do different socio-cultural groups respond to adapted texts?

ENGL 210: Technical and Professional Writing

A general education course that focuses on writing for professional settings. Students develop correspondence skills and researched reports formulas fundamental to the technical and professional workplace; examples include memoranda, letters, research proposals, and multimedia presentations. This particular courses emphasized audience awareness, clarity of communication, and collaborative teamwork.

Sample Syllabi

Sample Lectures

Awards

TAMU Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) Bednarz Award

  • Nominated for and received a small cash award and plaque in recognition of the superior quality of Teaching-As-Research Fellows project and the level of involvement in CIRTL@TAMU.

TAMU CIRTL Graduate Student Leadership Fellowship

  • Awarded funding to assist the Teaching-as-Research (TAR) program at Texas A&M based on exemplary performance in the TAR program.
  • Promoted the program, created and distributed marketing materials, reviewed applications, assisted with learning community logistics, and otherwise helped CIRTL staff run a successful 2024-2025 TAR program.

TAMU CIRTL Teaching-as-Research (TAR) Fellowship

  • Awarded funding to develop a research project on teaching in non-major specific English courses for the 2023-2024 academic school year for publication.

TAMU English Department Graduate Merit Teaching Award

  • Earned for assuming greater teaching responsibilities, such as designing syllabi and exams, for ENGL 337 (Southern Lit) and ENGL 365/RELS 360 (Bible as Lit).

Anonymized Student Feedback

  • I would describe this experience as learning how to be a better writer in a supportive and understanding environment. Overall, I had a very good experience because I was able to learn a lot and knew that my teacher was someone who truly wanted all of her students to succeed.

 

  • It was an experience that I was not expecting. I thought it would be the "typical" English class like reading and writing only. This class was more than just that. Immediately the environment was very welcoming and even exciting. When I started to have my personal life affect my school life, I was worried that Professor Bowling was going to be like other professors I have come across (which have not been very caring). I experienced the complete opposite of that, and I am forever grateful for getting to have an amazing professor. She not only gave me advice, but listened to me and even gave me grace for assignments. Overall, my experience in this class was great.

 

  • What stuck out to me most was how much our teacher cared about our class. She was constantly finding new ways to keep our class engaged during lectures. If she noticed we were tired she would give us a two minute break, she made lessons interesting by adding games, and she would turn on music during class work times. I really liked how I always felt very supported in this class.

 

  • How the professor taught the class, and how she listens to her students needs. Professor Bowling was always organized with her power-points, and planned in class activities to make what we were being taught that day fun. For student needs, we all voted that we would like to have a break in class, and she actually implemented a 2 minute break which was very nice.

 

  • What stuck out to me the most was how our teacher was constantly changing our lectures and class times in ways that benefited her students. She found ways to keep us engaged. You could also tell how much she cared about our well being. We could ask for extensions if necessary and she would give us quick breaks in class if it was a lecture heavy day

 

  • Professor Bowling is by far one of the best professors. She was very welcoming both in and out of the classroom. In the advice question above, I would like to elaborate on what I said. During the semester, I saw my grade go from an A to a B due to my lack of attention to my studies because of my personal life. I did not say anything at first because I didn't want to seem weak and truly was afraid to talk to Professor Bowling about what was going on. Yes she was very welcoming, but I am more on the shy side. When things started to take a turn, I knew I had to talk to someone. I couldn't really talk to my parents or my friends, so I turned to Professor Bowling. She is by far the most welcoming professor I have had, so I decided to go to her office hours to talk to her. When I did go, she welcomed me with open arms and listened to everything I had to say. At first it was hard, but then it wasn't so hard because she is very easy to talk to. Even when I started to cry, I didn't get onto myself so much because I felt like I was in a safe space. She offered me advice and support when she did not have to. She could have easily not cared, but she did. She helped me get through the rest of the semester which I am forever grateful for. She truly impacted me in a way that will stay with me throughout life. I have taken her advice in situations, and it really has helped. Knowing that there was someone there for me, especially a professor, helped me so much. Not just any professor, this professor. To anyone who has Professor Bowling next semester, you're in luck. To Professor Bowling, thank you for everything you have done for me. I am forever grateful for you and will always look up to you.