Previous Writing Intensive Program faculty have reported that writing-enriched classes lead them to articulate their goals more clearly and to state objectives and criteria for grading more explicitly in their syllabi and materials.
Developing a Strong Syllabus
- Model effective writing.
- Establish the purpose and role of writing in the course.
- Give vital information about writing assignments.
- Teach the writing process by charting writing assignments, their stages, and due dates.
- Offer clear guidelines and criteria by which work will be generated and evaluated.
- Constitute the course document, in both paper-based and online versions, that students are most likely to keep up with and to review most often.
- Introduce and articulate the role of your WIP TA.
Integrating Writing Assignments
- Through staging—breaking assignments into manageable parts with opportunities for guidance, feedback, and revision.
- Through sequencing—moving from simple to more complex tasks to build students’ skills over time.
Responding to Writing Resistance
Because some students in lecture-based courses may not expect to write, they may be resistant to learning the writing process. To counter resistance, you may consider:
- Emphasizing the benefits of writing to learn course content.
- Emphasizing writing to support engagement in the class.
- Emphasizing writing as a critical competency in an information culture.
- Utilizing innovative writing assignments relevant to students’ university and post-university careers.
Ready to Craft Your Syllabus?
Check out this bank of syllabus statements from WIP faculty and use this guide to walk you through the process of crafting a strong writing-enriched syllabus for your WIP class.