FAQ

-What is a Writing Intensive Course?

Writing Intensive courses at MEC incorporate frequent writing assignments in ways that help students learn both the subject matter of the courses and discipline-specific ways of thinking and writing.

They use a wide variety of Writing-to Learn (WTL) activities closely integrated with the course material, to help students acquire the knowledge and the skills relevant to that course.

Students in these courses will write in a variety of forms, including informal writing, such as journals and short response papers, which allow students to explore ideas and to experiment with writing strategies outside of the restrictions of formal writing. This informal writing can lead to formal essays, which should implement a drafting process.

The mix of writing assignments should be appropriate to the subject matter of the course. For example, a Writing Intensive math class need not include a formal research paper, but might instead require an essay that summarizes mathematical theories outlined in the syllabus.

Please contact us for more information about WICs and being a departmental coordinator.



-What are the WAC Departmental Coordinators’ Responsibilities?

Identifying Writing Intensive Course (WIC) in their Departments, with a particular emphasis, where possible, on core courses and courses that engage students before they take the CPE.

Working with the writing fellows to develop assignments and curriculum changes that reflect Writing to Learn pedagogies.

Documenting the curricular changes and revisions, including examples of before and after syllabi, writing assignments, and student work from across the curriculum.



-What is Ways of Knowing?

The Ways of Knowing project, launched in September 2007, expects to increase faculty and student engagement with the College. The overall goals guiding the project include:

Foster a culture of curricular innovation at the College
Establish a college-wide dialogue on the value of writing as a way of learning
Establish a college-wide dialogue on critical reading and writing in the disciplines
Continue monthly discussions of the Critical Reading and Writing in the Disciplines (CRWD) Council
Formulate and approve an institutional policy for faculty and student guidelines on CRWD courses
Offer professional development workshops for faculty and writing fellows
Offer professional development workshops for tutors
Expand the core of writing tutors to include faculty
Expand WAC teaching circles to include faculty in discipline-based courses



-What is the Writing Intensive Council?

Twice in March 2007, a faculty-led Writing Intensive Council has met to discuss ways of creating Writing Intensive courses (WIC) at MEC. Dr. Steven Nardi (WAC Coordinator, English) began the meetings by announcing that WAC will spend its remaining resources this year on offering faculty development workshops to prepare faculty for teaching WICs. Since there is consensus at the College as to the importance of WICs, the next step is to a MEC specific definition of them.

The Council is investigating ways of garnering administrative support for the program. The Council is also discussing how faculty can be prepared for WICs, and how students can be recruited to take part in them. These continuing meetings need input from a range of faculty to make WICs at the College a success.



-What are some of the ways MEC Writing Fellows work with faculty and students?

• Consult individually with participating course faculty
• Conduct study groups with participating faculty members
• Assist in the development of materials/assignments to complement existing course work
• Consult with students about writing assignments or about writing in general
• Research the most effective forms of writing to learn within various disciplines
• Assist in creating syllabi and descriptions for courses using WTL techniques

-What are WAC’s main goals?

WAC’s goal is to foster a culture of curricular innovation at the College. Its mission is to create and support institutional structures that make curricular innovation constant and self-sustaining. This year, we will accomplish this by:

• Working with WAC Coordinators within the departments,
• Creating workshops to fill Faculty Development needs identified by areas and department,
• Developing Writing Intensive courses and the procedure for implementing WI courses at MEC,
• Working with departments to develop their Core curriculum offerings,
• Expanding the use of writing as a way of learning material across the College, and
• Educating the faculty on how to improve CPE scores at the College.