Center for Teaching & Learning

Join us for lunch and to explore and experiment with ideas for teaching WIL1 courses!

This lunch and workshop is directed at the overarching learning objective of WIL1 courses, which is to guide and support students in their transition to college writing.  Aided by the work done by Keith Hjortshoj in The Transition to College Writing, we’ll begin with a discussion of what, in the first place, distinguishes “college writing” from the writing most of the students did in high school. We’ll then talk about ways to build syllabi that facilitate that transition, focusing on both content decisions and assignments. As regards the latter, we’ll consider how two specific, high-value assignment practices can greatly benefit students without creating an onerous burden for the instructor.

The first assignment is an infusion of regular, low stakes writing prompts (tied to class material) that build writerly confidence, encourage involvement in substantive class discussions, and provide opportunities for writing practice. The second is a fully scaffolded formal essay assignment with layers of revision built into it, some of which is done in the classroom in collaboration with their peers. These two assignment practices engage the WIL learning objectives while also honoring the content of your course. They also promote student growth as “writers who think.”

We hope to set aside some time in the workshop to work on syllabi, so please come prepared with a draft syllabus, or an old syllabus, to play around with.

Lunch and a copy of The Transition to College Writing provided!

Facilitated by Lisa Schnell, Professor of English and WID Faculty Associate

In-person, 303 Howe Library. Register by May 13th.