Teaching Method: Writing Across the Curriculum/Using Writing/ Designing Writing Assignments

Writing is a way for students to develop and use their critical thinking skills as well as to demonstrate learning. The links below provide ways that writing can be used both informally and formally throughout the college curriculum and include specific methods for handling all aspects of the writing process from assignment-making to responding and grading. The final link for faculty is a mega-site that brings together the writing research and scholarship of recent decades and its application in writing programs on campuses throughout the U.S. The last two links on this page provide online writing resources for students.

For Faculty
For Students

For Faculty:
An Introduction to Writing Across the Curriculum, compiled by Kate Kiefer (Colorado State University).
This site provides an inclusive guide for those who want to better understand the principles and practices of writing across the entire academic community. Includes links to other writing resources for students and faculty.
Link: http://wac.colostate.edu/intro/

Integrating Writing into Your Course (University of Wisconsin-Madison).
Contains detailed information on such practical topics as designing effective writing assignments; conferencing with students; responding, evaluating, grading; and using student peer review. Includes a link to WAC materials by discipline.
Link: http://mendota.english.wisc.edu/~WAC/category.jsp?id=2

“Writing for Learning—Not Just for Demonstrating Learning,” Peter Elbow (University of Massachusetts, Amherst).
A primary figure in the WAC movement, Peter Elbow describes several methods using writing as a tool for learning plus a range of techniques for responding to these writings and grading them.
Link: http://www.ntlf.com/html/lib/bib/writing.htm

“Improving Student Writing,” David W. Smit, Kansas State University. (IDEA Paper No. 25, September 1991.) Adobe Acrobat/PDF.
This paper argues that in order to improve student writing, all college teachers must teaching writing more often and more effectively. Discusses ways to promote writing with informal writing to learn activities, including examples of these, and effective methods for teaching formal writing using a wide variety of writing forms.
Link: http://www.idea.ksu.edu/papers/Idea_Paper_25.pdf

“How to create writing assignments for students that you actually look forward to reading,” Michael Flanigan. (University of Oklahoma, Instructional Development Program Newsletter, February 1998).
Based on a 5-year study that examined students’ writing and interviewed them about it, Flanigan identifies specific methods for shaping writing assignments that lead to successful papers. Includes a Revision Guide for students and methodology for holding an in-class revision session.
Link: http://www.ou.edu/pii/newsletters/archive/recent-feb.html

“Responding to Student Writing,” Speaking of Teaching, Stanford University Newsletter on Teaching, Vol. 3, No. 3, Spring 1992. Adobe Acrobat/PDF.
Specific methods for commenting effectively on student papers.
Link: http://ctl.stanford.edu/Newsletter/student_writing.pdf

“Pedagogical Theory and Practice: Responding to Student Writing,” compiled by Phyllis Frus. (University of Michigan, Sweetland Writing Center, March 1999, Vol. 2, No. 3). Adobe Acrobat/PDF.
Based on recent research and theory on writing instruction, this publication describes effective methods for commenting on student papers. Concludes with a list of recommended web sites for further information on responding to student writing.
Link: http://www.lsa.umich.edu/UofM/Content/SWC/document/SpecialMarch99.pdf

Writing Across the Curriculum at George Mason University.
An informative site with many practical ideas for all aspects of teaching with writing. Includes resources for dealing with plagiarism, links to writing guides for numerous disciplines, a Model Documents Gallery showing how to format and document writing for different disciplines, and links to a broad variety of WAC resources online.
Link: http://wac.gmu.edu/index.html

“Teaching Writing as a Liberal Art: Ideas That Made the Difference,” Toby Fulwiler (University of Vermont). Adobe Acrobat/PDF.
A pioneer of WAC programs, Fulwiler discusses15 ideas about teaching writing that have significantly influenced writing instruction over the past few decades.
Link: http://www.writing.umn.edu/docs/speakerseries_pubs/Fulwiler.pdf

WAC Clearinghouse (Colorado State University).
A comprehensive mega-site drawing together scholarship and resources for all aspects of Writing Across the Curriculum. Contains links to online articles in 5 journals and 4 book series plus multiple online resources for faculty in all disciplines. Includes the full text of several influential WAC books as Adobe Acrobat/PDF files and links to a variety of successful WAC programs in colleges, universities, and community colleges throughout the U.S.
Link: http://wac.colostate.edu/index.cfm

For Students:
“Writing in College: A Short Guide to College Writing,” Joseph M. Williams and Lawrence McEnerney (University of Chicago).
This is a concise guide for students to help them write more effectively in college.
Link: http://writing-program.uchicago.edu/resources/collegewriting/index.htm

Students may also find useful “Grammar Resources on the Web” from the University of Chicago Writing Program.
Link: http://writing-program.uchicago.edu/resources/grammar.htm

MSU Resources

Writing Center: http://writing.msu.edu/