Proposal for Writing-Intensive Course

This form has two purposes: to verify that a proposed course meets the criteria for a W course and to record practices in the teaching of writing. Questions are keyed to the criteria for offering a writing-intensive course adopted by the faculty in Spring 1985. You may wish to refer to the Faculty Handbook (appendix L) for a complete description of those criteria.

Consider submitting any additional materials to the chair of the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Committee.

Please note It is the policy of the WAC Committee to review all writing-intensive course syllabi each semester. Plans for a writing-intensive course, as detailed in your proposal, should transfer as much as possible to your syllabus. The WAC Committee reserves the right to compare your proposal with your syllabus as necessary and to ask for clarification if significant changes emerge. In completing and submitting your proposal, you signify your awareness of the syllabi review process; you agree to present your plans as accurately as possible at the point of submission; and you agree to transfer those plans to your syllabus, which should adequately inform students (and the WAC Committee) about the writing-intensive components of the course.

Proposal Form

* What semester and year will you teach this W course for the first time?

* Is this a new W course offered by your department?

Criterion #1

* How much WAC training have you completed towards certification?

Criterion #2

How many pages of formal writing will be required in this course? (Please note that the minimum allowable amount is 10 pages.)

Formal writing assignments are revised discourses. Expository, analytical, creative, critical, research-based papers and most traditional term-papers can be considered to be formal writing if there is class time and attention spent on the processes of writing and revision.

Please describe formal writing activities to be assigned

Criterion #3

How many pages of informal writing will be required in this course? (Please note that the minimum allowable amount is 15 pages.)

Informal writing assignments are ungraded and often exploratory, reflective, and personal. Examples include journals and impromptu, in-class responses. Drafts leading to formal papers may count as informal writing.

Please describe informal writing activities to be assigned

Criterion #4

How will class time be structured to include emphasis on writing?

Criterion #5

In an effort to assess the effectiveness of W courses, the committee requests that W course instructors complete a self-assessment of their writing instruction. That assessment needs to involve a measurement of student progress in writing during the semester. Please provide an explanation of how you expect to measure the writing progress of your students.

Please note It is the policy of the WAC Committee to review all writing-intensive course syllabi each semester. Plans for a writing-intensive course, as detailed in your proposal, should transfer as much as possible to your syllabus. The WAC Committee reserves the right to compare your proposal with your syllabus as necessary and to ask for clarification if significant changes emerge. In completing and submitting your proposal, you signify your awareness of the syllabi review process; you agree to present your plans as accurately as possible at the point of submission; and you agree to transfer those plans to your syllabus, which should adequately inform students (and the WAC Committee) about the writing-intensive components of the course.