Writing Intensive Courses
Some courses are designated "writing intensive." A writing intensive course encourages students to use writing to understand course materials, develop critical thinking skills, and communicate ideas effectively.
Characteristics:
Regular Writing
Students work on writing assignments--formal or informal, graded or ungraded--throughout the semester. They need not complete written assignments every week, but do complete a substantial number.
Regular Feedback
Although not all written work receives instructor feedback, students receive frequent suggestions for improvement. Revision: Students are encouraged to revise at least one, and ideally more, of their assignments.
Clear Expectations
The instructor provides clear written instructions for all assignments.
Grading
A substantial part of the course grade depends on the quality of written work. Instructors make explicit their criteria for evaluating written work.
