Crystal Cunningham
With more than 15 years of teaching experience, I am a highly skilled and knowledgeable professor specializing in teaching English Composition-101, Introduction to Literature-201, and Children’s Literature-334. I have also taught content in the areas of technical business writing, speech communication and interpersonal communication. As a dedicated member of the English Department at The Borough of Manhattan Community College, I have had the privilege of guiding and inspiring students from diverse backgrounds.
Expertise
My expertise lies in creating dynamic and engaging curriculum that fosters critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep appreciation for literature. I believe in creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where students feel encouraged to express their ideas and explore their creativity. By incorporating interactive teaching methods and incorporating technology, I strive to make learning a stimulating and enriching experience. As an English professor, my aim is to empower my students with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel academically and become effective communicators in their personal and professional lives.
Degrees
M.S.Ed.- Master of Science in Education, Metropolitan College of New York
B.A. – Bachelor of Arts in Communication, The State University of New York at Buffalo
Courses Taught
- Students placed in ENG 100.5 are offered extra support, afforded through additional instructional time. Students completing ENG 100.5 will have mastered the fundamentals of college-level reading and writing, including developing a thesis-driven response to the writing of others and following the basic conventions of citation and documentation. They will have practiced what Mike Rose calls the "habits of mind" necessary for success in college and in the larger world: summarizing, classifying, comparing, contrasting, and analyzing. Students will be introduced to basic research methods and MLA documentation and complete a research project. Students are required to take a departmental final exam that requires the composition of a 500 word thesis-driven essay in conversation with two texts. Successful completion of this course is equivalent to passing ENG 101.
Prerequisite: English Proficiency Index of 64 and lower or a score of 43-55 on the CAT-W and exemption from ACR 95 or successful completion of ACR 95. This course is not open to ESL students.
Please note: Tuition for this corequisite course is charged by the equated credit (hours) not per credit.
Course Syllabus - English Composition is the standard freshman writing course. The course introduces students to academic writing. By its conclusion, students will be ready for English 201 and for the writing they will be asked to do in advanced courses across the curriculum. Students completing ENG 101 will have mastered the fundamentals of college-level reading and writing, including developing a thesis-driven response to the writing of others and following the basic conventions of citation and documentation. They will have practiced what Mike Rose calls the "habits of mind" necessary for success in college and in the larger world: summarizing, classifying, comparing, contrasting, and analyzing. Students will be introduced to basic research methods and MLA documentation and complete a research project. Students are required to take a departmental final exam that requires the composition of a 500 word, thesis-driven essay in conversation with two designated texts.
Prerequisite: Pass the CAT-R and CAT-W or Accuplacer tests
Course Syllabus - This is a course that builds upon skills introduced in English 101. In this course, literature is the field for the development of critical reading, critical thinking, independent research, and writing skills. Students are introduced to literary criticisms and acquire basic knowledge necessary for the analysis of texts (including literary terms and some literary theory); they gain proficiency in library and internet research; and they hone their skills as readers and writers. Assignments move from close readings of literary texts in a variety of genres to analyses that introduce literary terms and broader contexts, culminating in an independent, documented, thesis-driven research paper. By the conclusion of English 201, students will be prepared for the analytical and research-based writing required in upper-level courses across the curriculum; they will also be prepared for advanced courses in literature.
Prerequisite: ENG 101
Course Syllabus - This course studies and analyzes outstanding classical, contemporary and multicultural literature for children and adolescents, arranged by genre. Students are given an overview of the evolution of the literature from its cultural roots in myth and legend to its present role as a reflector of modern society.
Pre-Requisite: ENG 101 and ENG201 or ENG121
Course Syllabus - The aim of this course is to develop effective skills in speech communication. The student examines how to generate topics and organized ideas, masters elements of audience psychology and practices techniques of speech presentation in a public forum. All elements of speech production and presentation are considered.
Research and Projects
- In Defense of Teaching Black Studies: Reading, Writing & Justice, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (November 2023)
- Conditions in Harlem Revisited: From the 1936 Mayor’s Commission Report to Today, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (December 2022)
- Detoxifying the Classroom: An Interactive Workshop on Contemplative Pedagogy, CUNY Start All-Staff Day, 2019
- Mindfulness Meditation for Optimal Learning and Teaching (UFT Workshop), 2017
Publications
Cunningham, Crystal. “Teaching in the Non-Traditional Classroom: What Works and What Doesn’t.” BMCC Inquirer, vol. 24, Fall 2017, pp. 32–35, bmccprodstroac.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/ported/faculty-affairs/upload/vol24.pdf.
Honors, Awards and Affiliations
- The National Dean’s List, “Honoring America’s Outstanding College Students,” 2003-2004
- Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Scholarship, 2001-2002
- Academic Higher Education Program (SUNY Buffalo), 2004-2005
- Mary Condon Scholarship, 2000
- The Bishop’s Scholar Award, Diocese of Buffalo, 1996-1997
- “I Am an Author” Award (Buffalo Board of Education), 1994
