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Community Outreach

The Department of English is committed to teaching and serving our Memphis and Mid-South communities. Please contact us at 901.678.2651 if you would like to discuss ways we can work together.

Current Outreach Programs

WordSmith Writing Olympics - February 16th, 2025

Middle and high schools are invited to submit teams of student writers to compete in a fun series of writing challenges. Contact Ms. Cathy Dice at cdice@memphis.edu or visit the WordSmith Writing Olympics webpage for more information.

English as a Second Language Classes

Take classes in English or advertise your programs for non-native English speakers. Contact Dr. Rebecca Adams a radams4@memphis.edu or visit our ESL Classes webpage for more information. 

Past Outreach Programs

Compose Yourself: AI Literacy Workshop Series Fall 2024

A hands-on workshop series with UofM English faculty and the Memphis Public Libraries on Artificial Intelligence. Below you will find a list of current series topics and registration information. This series will be hosted at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library on Tuesdays from October 22nd - November 19th beginning at 6:00pm in room L-56. 

Compose Yourself 2.0: Digital Literacy Workshop Series Spring 2024

This 8-week workshop series - made possible by Memphis Public Libraries and the Memphis Library Foundation - invited the Memphis community to learn from English and Communications graduate students on topics and skills necessary to navigate today's technological world. Below you will find a list of past series topics and the presentation that accompanied each sesion. 

  • Introduction to digital literacy, overview of commonly-used online tools such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Gmail. 
  • View the presentation

    • Introduction to tracking methods and how to protect yourself online, common scam tactics and how to avoid them.
    • View the presentation

    • Online communication etiquette, ethics, and taking care of your mental health. 

    • Understanding Artificial Intelligence, the importance of fact-checking online information, and overview of OpenAI's ChatGPT 3.5.

    • Methods for spotting and avoiding the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and fake news with an emphasis on algorithms and social media. 
    • View the presentation

    • Navigating online job postings and LinkedIn as a social media site and networking community. 
    • View the presentation

    • Preparing for modern interviews, the virtual interview, remote work, and an overview of Zoom. 
    • View the presentation