Becky Thompson, EdD

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God” – Corrie ten Boom.

• Teaching & Education

  You will learn with me when taking courses in Composition and Rhetoric, Composition and Literature, American Literature, Young Adult Literature, Composition Theory, Creative Writing, Expository Writing, and a variety of English Education classes.

  Degrees

  • BS, English Education, Bob Jones University
  • MEd, English Education, Bob Jones University
  • EdD, Curriculum Instruction, Bob Jones University
• Professional Experience

  My experiences include an eight-year career as English Dept Chair in Dunbar, Wisconsin, and a nineteen-year career here at NGU in Tigerville, South Carolina.

• Selected Publications

  “An Analysis of the Effects of Peer Evaluation on Student Achievement and Attitudes in the College Freshman English Classroom” (Doctoral Dissertation, May 2006)

• Selected Awards Received

  2016 Excellence in Teaching Award, South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities

  2016, 2006 NGU Baptist Student Union (BSU) Christian Service Award

  2008 NGU Yearbook Dedication Award The Aurora

  2006 NGU Student Government Association (SGA) Recognition Award

• My Network

  I have spent my entire adult life with educators (and with students). I am thoroughly invested in studying (and then teaching my students) effective pedagogical skills (specifically in the secondary English classroom). Working with secondary education ELA majors allows me to meet and connect with numerous local junior and high school teachers as well as administrators. Additionally, I have been fortunate to work with a few local publishers, linking students to potential internship opportunities on occasion.

• My Story

  I came to NGU in the fall of 2002, and I cherish every semester I have been here in Tigerville. I particularly enjoy teaching with my colleagues; I have held a variety of positions at NGU, including faculty secretary, faculty vice-chair, faculty chair, and faculty marshal this year. Additionally, I am the coordinator of the English language arts secondary education degree and one of the advisors of the Alpha Kappa Rho chapter of the International English Honor Society Sigma Tau Delta. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family (specifically my nephews and nieces); reading (especially all types of American literature), and traveling (particularly to noteworthy literary locations like prominent American authors’ homes). One interesting fact: you can find pictures of many of my travels in my office in White Hall: there’s nothing like walking around the homes of writers I teach semester after semester. Most of all, I enjoy the ministry of teaching. I cannot imagine a more fulfilling life!

  Favorite Course to Teach: I have two favorites. New England Writers—I get to teach many authors whose homes I’ve had the opportunity to tour, and I love bringing those authors to life for my students. We study the characteristics of New England (and, of course, New England writers); as a result, our analysis of the local color elements is rich and full–offering a picture of not only the writing itself but also the author, the audience, the people. It’s like teaching history alongside English: what could be more fun?

  And The World of Harry Potter—I taught for the first time in Fall 2019. It was exceptionally thought-provoking as well as enjoyable. Filled with Harry Potter fans as well as some students totally unfamiliar with the world that J. K. Rowling created, the course provided fascinating discussion and surprising application as we studied the characters, themes, settings, and more that Rowling produced. Great, great fun!

• Related Links
  • Over 90 percent of our ELA majors are working in teaching positions—from junior high schools to high schools to colleges and universities (and a few in graduate schools). English Education degrees also lead to law school, graduate degrees in education, law, writing, as well as fellowships at well-known universities
  • Some of our English and English Education majors have published volumes of poetry, devotional books, science fiction novels, screenplays, young adult fantasies, and instructional volumes (to name a few examples)