Average Time-on-Course of a Writing Teacher

The following calculation is for a first year writing course of 25 students, with four out-of-class
essays, one required individual conference, and one end-of-the-semester portfolio. This is a
conservative estimate.

Evaluation of four essays (per

student):
Total minutes per paper 40 minutes
Total of four papers 160 minutes

Other evaluations (in-class work, conferences, 70 minutes

portfolio)

Total evaluation time per student: 230 minutes

Per class of 25 students: 5,750 minutes/96 hours

Other work for course

Preparations (two hours per one hour class) 90 hours
Teaching time (three hours a week, 15 weeks) 45 hours
Total per section 135 hours

Total hours per course:

Work with students 96 hours
Other work for course 135 hours
Total time-on-course 231 hours
Two sections 462 hours

462 hours for 16 weeks: 29 hours a week

9 hours above .50 FTE

Richard Haswell, Texas A&M

February 2005