Students who take composition classes learn how to write academic essays in which they present arguments based on facts gleaned from research. Because many disciplines require students to be able to write clearly and concisely, many colleges around the world require students to take basic composition courses, often early in their academic careers. Composition specialists are teachers who help students improve their writing skills, either as direct instructors or as administrators who assist in the development and implementation of composition curriculum.
A composition specialist who also serves as an instructor is typically in charge of teaching students about grammar, rhetoric, structure, and research. He or she will also assign papers that will allow him or her to assess students’ writing abilities and comprehension levels. When a composition specialist has a more administrative role, he or she may spend more time analyzing test results, learning about other departments’ writing needs, and designing syllabi and curricula that composition instructors can use in their classes.
A person who works as a composition specialist typically holds a master’s degree in a field such as writing or education with a focus on writing. Composition instructors may hold a master’s or doctorate degree, while those in higher-level positions almost always hold a doctorate degree. Composition specialists who have graduate degrees in other subjects or who do not have graduate degrees at all but have published well-regarded books and articles are also common. In other words, a person who becomes a composition specialist has demonstrated that he or she is a skilled writer who understands the fundamentals of writing education in some way.
A composition specialist who also serves as an instructor might start a class by assigning students specific texts to read. Instructors frequently choose topics for their students to write about. Instructors may provide some research assistance to students, but they must also locate their own texts. Many composition specialists also allow students to rewrite their papers after receiving initial grades, because revision is seen as an important part of the writing process by many composition experts.
A composition specialist working in an administrative position, on the other hand, is usually in charge of dealing with big picture issues. He or she might, for example, recommend texts and topics for instructors to cover in their classes. These composition experts may also be involved in the hiring process.