Assessing the LSA Upper-Level Writing Requirement

Assessing the LSA Upper-Level Writing Requirement

Grant:
Gilbert Whitaker Fund for the Improvement of Teaching
Academic Year:
2009 - 2010 (June 1, 2009 through May 31, 2010)
Funding Requested:
$10,000.00
Project Dates:
-
Applicant(s):
argere
nesilver
Overview of the Project:
The Sweetland Writing Center plans to undertake a comprehensive analysis and assessment of the Upper-Level Writing Requirement (ULWR). To enhance the coordination and support offered to students and instructors who participate in LSA's Upper-Level Writing Requirement, we propose a multi-pronged approach that will (i) collect data on the current state of the ULWR and visions for its future; (ii) revise institutional guidelines and application materials to direct faculty proposing or renewing ULWR courses; and (iii) develop instructional materials, workshops, and other forms of faculty and GSI support to promote best practices and excellent writing instruction in all departments.
Final Report Fields
Project Objectives:
-to investigate the current state of the ULWR in relation to its original purpose -to consider revision of current guidelines in order to address current practices -to develop instructional materials and other forms of faculty support to promote best practices in all ULWR courses
Project Achievements:
-only about half of the students fulfill the ULWR in their major departments -there is considerable disparity in the number of ULWR courses in the three divisions of the College -transfer students and international students do less well in ULWR than continuing students -over half of the ULWR courses are taught by non-tenure track faculty or GSIs
Continuation:
-development of instructional materials continues -changes in guidelines are still being implemented -analysis of data collected for this study continues -faculty support is still being developed
Dissemination:
-distribution of new ULWR guidelines will make the project's results visible to all ULWR instructors -a final version of the report will be posted on the Sweetland website -articles about the project's findings are being written for publication in national journals
Advice to your Colleagues:
-individual meetings with chairs/representatives of each department offering ULWR courses were very helpful -we collected a large amount of data, including ULWR syllabi dating back to 1978, so analysis has been a very slow process--we are learning patience
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