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Resources
for Faculty and Advisers
What
you should know about teaching a WI course
What
are your obligations as an instructor of a writing-intensive (WI)
course? What freedom do you have in redesigning an existing WI
course? The following guidelines will help answer these questions.
If you would like more information or assistance, contact Steve
Gross
at 423-439-6680 or
mailto:grosss@mail.etsu.edu.
Your
WI course should . . .
- require
each student to write a total of at least 15 pages over the course
of a semester.
In
a writing-intensive course, writing activities will be integral
to students' learning of the course material and students will
use writing in a variety of ways, with opportunities for feedback,
response, and revision. (Note: For the purposes of these guidelines,
one "page" equals approximately 250 words, which is
the average length of a traditional type-written, double- spaced
page. Page lengths are to be understood as targets, with the
further understanding that the amount of writing produced in
a course will vary from student to student.)
-
spread
writing assignments throughout the semester, with at least 10
pages of writing due before the last week of class (in a 15-week
semester).
- require
students to review and revise a portion of their writing.
The
recommended amount of revision is at least 5 pages. This may
include revision in response to instructor comments and/or in
response to peer review. It may also include a sequence of
related writing, with feedback.
-
give
writing assignments and activities that vary in regard to factors
such as content, audience, and/or format.
-
base
a substantial portion of the final course grade on student writing--that
is, on written assignments and/or essay exams.
Generally,
the writing committee recommends that 50% or more of the final
grade be based on written materials, unless there are mitigating
factors such as accreditation requirements or semester projects.
- normally
enroll no more than 25 students.
Larger
enrollments must be justified by other factors related to the
instructor's overall teaching responsibility, such as course-load
reductions or teaching assistants.
Use
this form to propose a writing-intensive
course, and submit all proposals to: Writing Proficiency Committee,
Box 70683.
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