John Muise

Several years after enrolling as a graduate student in English at the University of New Brunswick in September of 1994, John Muise began to write his doctoral thesis on the short stories of Katherine Mansfield, and he has since maintained his interest in Mansfield’s life and work. Currently, John’s primary area of interest is short fiction, but he has become increasingly drawn to science fiction and non-fiction prose.

While pursing his doctoral degree, John served as a UNB Teaching Assistant thirteen times, and from 1997-2001, he taught seven sections of English 1103 (Fundamentals of Clear Writing), two sections of English 1145 (Introduction to Short Fiction), and one section of English 1146 (Introduction to the Novel) at UNB. During this time, John also held many non-academic jobs, and when he wasn’t teaching or serving as a TA (or holding various other jobs), he worked as a writing tutor at UNB’s Writing and Study Skills Centre.

In September of 2000, John began teaching at STU, and it was at this time that he began his nine-year tenure as a Tutorial Leader for Arts 1000 (The Development of Western Thought) at UNB. John would eventually go on to teach twenty-eight sections of English 1006 (Introduction to Literature) at STU, and when the name and number of this course was changed in 2015, he proceeded to teach six sections of English 1016 (English Literatures in History and Culture). John has now taught English 2503 (Short Story) more than fifteen times, and he has also taught Humanities 1003 (Introduction to University Studies), English 2006 (Introduction to the Study of Literature), English 3003 (an independent studies course designed to explore some of the intersections between several of Nietzsche’s most influential works and a number of literary texts), Women Writers II, Comedy, and Tragedy at STU.

John Muise Contract Academic Instructor Carleton Hall 245-1 Fredericton Email: john.muise@unb.ca Several years after enrolling as a graduate student in English at the University of New Brunswick in September of 1994, John Muise began to write his doctoral thesis on the short stories of Katherine Mansfield, and he has since maintained his interest in Mansfield’s life and work. Currently, John’s primary area of interest is short fiction, but he has become increasingly drawn to science fiction and non- fiction prose. While pursing his doctoral degree, John served as a UNB Teaching Assistant thirteen times, and from 1997-2001, he taught seven sections of English 1103 (Fundamentals of Clear Writing), two sections of English 1145 (Introduction to Short Fiction), and one section of English 1146 (Introduction to the Novel) at UNB. During this time, John also held many non-academic jobs, and when he wasn’t teaching or serving as a TA (or holding various other jobs), he worked as a writing tutor at UNB’s Writing and Study Skills Centre. In September of 2000, John began teaching at STU, and it was at this time that he began his nine-year tenure as a Tutorial Leader for Arts 1000 (The Development of Western Thought) at UNB. John would eventually go on to teach twenty-eight sections of English 1006 (Introduction to Literature) at STU, and when the name and number of this course was changed in 2015, he proceeded to teach six sections of English 1016 (English Literatures in History and Culture). John has now taught English 2503 (Short Story) more than fifteen times, and he has also taught Humanities 1003 (Introduction to University Studies), English 2006 (Introduction to the Study of Literature), English 3003 (an independent studies course designed to explore some of the intersections between several of Nietzsche’s most influential works and a number of literary texts), Women Writers II, Comedy, and Tragedy at STU. More recently, John has been teaching JOUR 1113 (Fundamentals of Effective Writing) and COPP 2013 (Fundamentals of Writing) virtually every fall at STU, and several years ago he accepted an offer from STU’s Human Rights Chair to teach a section of HMRT 2023 (Human Rights and Literature). Last year John taught the following English courses at STU: English 2513 (Science Fiction 1: Development), English 2563 (Science Fiction 2: Themes) , and English 1023 (Introduction to the Study of Literature). John just finished teaching both a section of English 2513 and a section of English 2503, and he is now teaching both a section of English 2563 and a section of English 1023. Hence, John is as much a writing instructor as he is a literature instructor who specializes in teaching short fiction, and he has come to develop a deep interest in all things concerning science fiction and non-fiction prose.

As some of you may know, John now regularly teaches English 1103, but he also occasionally teaches English 1144 (Reading and Writing Non-Fiction Prose) at UNB. John currently holds a multi-year- appointment position for English 1103, and last fall he began to serve as a member of a UNB committee that assesses applications from prospective (contract) English instructors. John was required to become well acquainted with the key figures and events involved in the development of science fiction when he taught a section of English 2984 (Introduction to Science Fiction) at UNB three summers ago, and the experience was instrumental in his being offered the opportunity to teach the two aforementioned sci-fi courses at STU.

Prior to entering the doctoral program at UNB, John received his MA in English from Acadia University, and prior to receiving his MA, he received a Diploma in Journalism from Holland College. John interned as a reporter at The Evening News in New Glasgow while he was studying at Holland College, and after he received his Journalism Diploma, he worked as a freelance reporter for both Island Side Magazine and Edge Magazine on Prince Edward Island. John’s MA thesis was devoted to the process of film adaptation, so it is no surprise that he has relied heavily on films in virtually all of the courses that he has taught.

In November of 1997, while pursuing his doctoral degree, John presented a paper on Katherine Mansfield’s short stories at an MLA conference in Chicago, and over the course of the next several years, he had four of his short stories published in The Gaspereau Review. Last year, John finished writing a novella that has been submitted to several prospective publishers, and in September of 2019, he was asked by the organizers of NB Media Co-op’s Tertulia series to deliver a presentation on Katherine Mansfield.

In every course that he teaches, John stresses the importance of effective reading and writing while emphasizing key distinctions between periods, genres, and styles. At the same time, John always encourages students to challenge accepted beliefs, especially those concerning human nature. Students in John’s classes therefore have the opportunity to improve their reading and writing skills and to expand their knowledge of the subject matter at hand while improving their critical thinking skills. John typically requires students to submit several formal essays per semester, and he has often offered students the option of submitting a creative piece in place of an essay. With respect to his teaching style, John is inclined to lecture, but he also welcomes questions, discussions, and the prospect of group work.

John has become acutely conscious of the need for an educator to adapt regularly, and as a result, he continues to strive to engage students via texts, ideas, and concerns that are at once familiar and new to them. John has never received a teaching award, but he has been nominated for a teaching award four times: three times (in 2000, in 2008, and again in 2009) at UNB, and once (in 2011) at STU.

John is known for his approachability, so you are warmly invited to visit him at his office in Carleton Hall 245-1.