SOP: Balance of scholarship & teaching or predominantly about scholarship?

[DramaDuck]

Just curious, did you balance out, if applicable, teaching experience and what contributions you wanted to make in your prospective school's teaching community with your research interest and purpose, or did you focus primarily on your research in your SOP? I ask because a recent conversation with a PhD graduate stressed how at R1s  you either focus on your research and publish or you focus on mentorship and teaching. This got me wondering how I should have considered this aspect of my programs when I applied to schools for Fall 2015.

[ToldAgain]

Hi DramaDuck!

 

I balanced my SOP between research and teaching, but definitely with a heavy bias toward research. When talking to an administrator about the criteria his school uses to determine TAships, I was surprised when he said that his school mostly looks at academic ability, and not teaching/tutoring experience. This does make some sense to me, though.

 

My own SOP is completely about research and fit, but I include a paragraph about my teaching experience. This is primarily because I have a strong tutoring background and a conference presentation about teaching. I think it makes me look somewhat academically well-rounded and able/willing to teach (won't try to shirk TA or instructor responsibilities), but it was the first paragraph I cut in instances where the school wanted a shorter SOP.

 

I hope this helps.

[jhefflol]

I focused on my research with 2 short paragraphs outlining my teaching experience, pedagogical theories, and experience working with diverse students. I modeled that section off of Syracuse's teaching statement requirement, just shorter. My undergrad was in English education so it seemed natural to outline the formal training I have had.

[mikers86]

Scholarship. If you have some teaching background, include it briefly (every word counts with such little space), but it will not be what makes or breaks your application. They're accepting you based predominantly on your research interests, not if you will make a good TA right out of the gate. If, for example, you know that their FYW program has previously offered courses with some kind link or connection to businesses within that community and you have similar experience leading a course with a similar component, by all means highlight that. Or, if the application has a separate teaching statement, I wouldn't waste any space in the SOP on that topic

 

Edit: This is especially true if the program doesn't have a heavy teaching load for doctoral students. I should say that if the program has a 1/2 or 2/2 teaching load, then spend a little room describing teaching experience/love of teaching/however you want to frame it. But more often than not, research>teaching within the SOP.

Edited January 8, 2015 by mikers86

[fancypants09]

100% on research. I do have some teaching experience, but left that for the CV only---I did have much to say on the research I want to engage in, and plus the teaching is in a different discipline. 

 

From talking to friends in the field, you undergo rigorous training within the department before you're handed your teaching assignments, so I don't think teaching experience is a make-or-break element. 

[1Q84]

I originally had a paragraph in mine about my background in education (including a bachelor's degree) but ended up cutting it out and leaving it for the CV, like fancypants09. 

 

I figured most programs can infer by seeing the B.Ed and the teaching experience I have had during my MA, which is also noted in the same space. 

 

I mostly made this decision for page length reasons but also because it doesn't seem like most of the programs to which I applied give out TAships based on skill or merit, so I felt no need to highlight that part of my background. 

 

I ask because a recent conversation with a PhD graduate stressed how at R1s  you either focus on your research and publish or you focus on mentorship and teaching. 

 

Not sure how accurate this is. Never heard that you can focus on teaching at an R1... in fact, the very essence of being an R1 usually entails a focus on research, no?

[queennight]

I wrote entirely based on research. I don't think there's any harm in adding your teaching experience (and it most likely is a boost!) but the majority of the SOP is normally dedicated to research, from what I understand.

[NowMoreSerious]

I didn't mention a word about teaching experience, and I had a lot of it.  I figured it was on my CV already. 

[drownsoda]

I applied for MA programs, but for what it's worth, I didn't talk about teaching experience at all in my SOP. I have a minimal amount of it, but I did work in a college writing center and tutored people, but I figured that was best left for my C.V./Resume because it has nothing to do with my academic interests.

[snyegurachka]

100% on research. I do have some teaching experience, but left that for the CV only---I did have much to say on the research I want to engage in, and plus the teaching is in a different discipline. 

 

From talking to friends in the field, you undergo rigorous training within the department before you're handed your teaching assignments, so I don't think teaching experience is a make-or-break element. 

 

This thing. I was advised not to talk about teaching because programs are looking for students who will become prominent scholars in their fields, which in turn will make the school/program look good. Regardless of the realities of academic work, the ideal is that a successful scholar publishes and produces work and happens to teach as well. Take in mind that this advice came from a professor/scholar of Art History and not English/Literature...but I think that, with word limits and so on, it is best to focus on your research and proposed future study/dissertation.

 

I have relatively thorough descriptions of what my teaching experiences entailed on my CV and am confident that programs that value teaching experience will get what they need from that.

[1Q84]

This thing. I was advised not to talk about teaching because programs are looking for students who will become prominent scholars in their fields, which in turn will make the school/program look good. Regardless of the realities of academic work, the ideal is that a successful scholar publishes and produces work and happens to teach as well. Take in mind that this advice came from a professor/scholar of Art History and not English/Literature...but I think that, with word limits and so on, it is best to focus on your research and proposed future study/dissertation.

 

I would stress very strongly that your advice applies only to R1 schools and other research-focused schools. I know many other universities that offer (unofficial) "teaching emphasis" options in their Ph.D. programs, so a candidate with that interest applying to those schools would be well-served by mentioning their teaching experience in their SOP.

[hypervodka]

I would stress very strongly that your advice applies only to R1 schools and other research-focused schools. I know many other universities that offer (unofficial) "teaching emphasis" options in their Ph.D. programs, so a candidate with that interest applying to those schools would be well-served by mentioning their teaching experience in their SOP.

I agree. Only one of the schools that applied to had this v. obvious teaching focus, so, for them, I made more an effort to emphasize my teaching experience and my "hands-on attitude" in the SoP. For every one else, I paid it dust and relegated it to my CV.