University-Wide
Undergraduate Curriculum Handbook
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The University Senate defines a "writing intensive" course as one that has content as its primary focus but that also reinforces writing skills by using writing in a substantial way to enhance learning. Writing intensive courses are not created by merely tacking on more writing assignments. Writing is not an "extra"; rather, it becomes an integral part of the learning process. Writing is not added to content; it is a way of improving students' understanding of content.
The W-designation may be applied to a course or section only when authorized by the Liberal Studies Committee (LSC); attaching a /W/ indicates that the course or section is "writing-intensive" and meets the criteria established by the University Senate. All LSC actions either authorizing or denying authorization for a W-designation will be reported to the UWUCC for information.
In most cases, a proposal for a W-designation course involves a change in how the instructor will use writing to achieve course goals; it does not involve a change of the goals, objectives or content of the course. For this reason, the change that occurs in the course is not considered a course revision. Therefore, the Liberal Studies Committee will approve W-designation courses and pass them along to the UWUCC and the Senate for information only.
STEP #1. Read the Senate-approved criteria for writing-intensive courses. Consider attending a writing workshop designed to help faculty develop writing-intensive proposals, or talk with a colleague who has attended. Read the introduction and look at the sample proposals available from the Liberal Studies Office.
STEP #2. Complete the application form, get the necessary signatures, and send one (1) copy of the form and its attachments to the LSC.
You have a great deal of flexibility. Because the LSC knows that departments face different situations, it will authorize the use of a W-designation in any of three ways:
A professor may make a commitment to IUP's Writing Across the Curriculum program. The /W/ may then be attached to any course that she or he elects to teach in a writing-intensive way. (The professor need not emphasize writing in every course, every time; this method permits the use of the /W/, but does not demand it universally.) To make a commitment a professor must: (1) indicate his or her intention on the application cover sheet, (2) have completed an approved writing workshop, (3) submit an acceptable syllabus and summary of writing assignments for one course, and (4) agree to forward to the LSC, for its information, syllabus for subsequently offered /W/ courses or sections.
Professors will be asked to indicate, every five years, if they want to continue the commitment.
A department may indicate that one of its courses will be a writing-intensive course regardless of who teaches it. To receive authorization to use the /W/ for a department course, a department must: (1) submit an acceptable syllabus and summary of writing assignments, and (2) attach a supplementary statement explaining how the department will ensure that whoever teaches the course will abide by the syllabus, use the same or equivalent writing assignments, and be familiar with current theory and practice in writing-across-the-curriculum.
A professor may apply to use a W-designation on a course-by-course basis. A small team of professors who regularly teach a course together may submit a jointly prepared proposal in this same manner. To receive authorization for a course, a professor or team must: submit an acceptable syllabus and summary of writing assignments. (Note: this form of authorization is both course-specific and professor(s)-specific. It cannot be carried by the professor(s) to other courses, nor can it be used for this course when other professors are teaching it, unless they submit their own applications.)
The LSC will make every effort to act promptly on applications. Assuming that the application contains no insufficiencies, a submission by November 1 will receive action in time for inclusion on the next summer or fall schedules; a submission by April 1 will receive action in time for inclusion on the next spring schedule.
The department chairperson assigns the W designation to the section number when preparing the Final Class Schedule. The Director of Liberal Studies will provide in a timely fashion a list of writing-intensive authorizations so that chairpersons can do this with assurance. As in the case of all scheduling decisions, it is assumed that the chairperson will have consulted appropriately with faculty and deans, and considered the programmatic needs of students served by the department.
In the case of a professor commitment, the chairperson may apply a /W/ to any course or section of a course, any time this professor is the instructor (assuming, of course, that the professor agrees to teach this course in a writing-intensive manner). In the case of a departmental course, the /W/ may be applied any time that the department can fulfill its promise to insure the course is writing-intensive. In the case of a professor/individual course authorization, the chairperson may apply a /W/ only when the specific professor(s) and specific course are paired on the class schedule.
The chairperson has a good deal of flexibility: The /W/ may be applied to some sections of a course without applying it to all. The /W/ may be applied to a course or section for some semesters without incurring an obligation to apply it every time the course is taught.
Because there is flexibility, however, chairpersons have a responsibility, when scheduling a /W/ course or section, to communicate with involved faculty to be sure that they are willing and intending to teach in a writing-intensive manner on this occasion.
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LSC #_____ |
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| COVER SHEET: Request for Approval to Use W-Designation | ||
| TYPE I. PROFESSOR COMMITMENT | ||
| (___) | Professor & Phone ___________________________________ | Phone ________ |
| (___) | Writing Workshop? (If not at IUP, where? when?) _____________________________ | |
| (___) | Proposal for one W-course (see instructions below) | |
| (___) | Agree to forward syllabi for subsequently offered W-courses? | |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ||
| TYPE II. DEPARTMENT COURSE | ||
| (___) | Department Contact Person & Phone ________________________ | Phone ________ |
| (___) | Course Number/Title ___________________________________________________ | |
| (___) | Statement concerning departmental responsibility | |
| (___) | Proposal for this W-course (see instructions below) | |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ||
| TYPE III. SPECIFIC COURSE AND SPECIFIC PROFESSOR(S) | ||
| (___) | Professor(s) & Phone _______________________________ | |
| (___) | Course Number/Title ________________________________ | |
| (___) | Proposal for this W-course (see instructions below) | |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ||
| SIGNATURES: | ||
| Professor(s)_________________________________________ | Date________ | |
| Department Chairperson _______________________________ | Date________ | |
| College Dean _______________________________________ | Date________ | |
| Director of Liberal Studies _____________________________ | Date________ | |
| COMPONENTS OF A PROPOSAL FOR A WRITING-INTENSIVE COURSE: | ||
I. |
"Writing Summary"--one or two pages explaining how writing is used in the course. First, explain any distinctive characteristics of the content or students which would help the Liberal Studies Committee understand your summary. Second, list and explain the types of writing activities; be especially careful to explain (1) what each writing activity is intended to accomplish as well as the (2) amount of writing, (3) frequency and number of assignments, and (4) whether there are opportunities for revision. If the activity is to be graded, indicate (5) evaluation standards and (6) percentage contribution to the student's final grade. (See Summary Chart for Writing Assignments.) | |
| II. | Copy of the course syllabus. |
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| III. | Two or three samples of assignment sheets, instructions, or
criteria concerning writing that are given to students. Limit: 4 pages. (Single copies of
longer items, if essential to the proposal, may be submitted to be passed among LSC
members and returned to you.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
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| Please number all pages. Provide one copy to
Liberal Studies Committee. Before you submit: Have you double-checked your proposal against "The Liberal Studies Committee's Most Frequently Asked Questions"? |
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A. Writing Assignments |
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| Assignment Title | # of Assignments |
# of total pages |
Graded (yes/no) |
Opportunity for Revision (yes/no) |
Written Assignment represents what % of Final Grade |
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| Totals | NA | NA |
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| B. Examinations (Complete only if you intend to use essay exams/short answers as part of the required number of pages of writing.) | |||
| Exams | Approx. % of exam that is short anser | Anticipated # of pages for essay or short answer, or approx. word count | Exam constitutes what % of final course grade |
| 1. | |||
| 2. | |||
| 3. | |||
| Totals | |||
*Total writing assignments should contain at least 5000 words (approximately 15-20 typed pages) in two or more separate assignments; written assignments should be a major part of the final grade--at least 50% or more.
CHECK LIST FOR WRITING-INTENSIVE PROPOSALS
The Liberal Studies Committee's Most Frequently Asked Questions,
Based on the Senate Criteria for Writing-Intensive Courses
For All Writing-Intensive Courses:
______ Are the writing assignments integral parts of the course, rather than exercises that seem tacked on artificially? Are they assignments that promise to enhance student learning?
______ Have you considered various forms of writing such as case studies, laboratory reports, journals, letters, memos, formal essays, research articles, project or grant proposals, and so forth?
______ Does one of your course objectives explicitly mention the improvement of writing?
______ Will you distribute written instructions, including criteria for evaluation, for major assignments?
______ Will students receive guidance in conceiving, organizing, and presenting written material in ways appropriate to the subject being studied?
______ Will students produce at least 5000 words (15-20 typed pages) of writing that you evaluate? Have you clarified this by giving us the minimum number of pages that you expect for each writing assignment?
______ Are there at least two, and preferably more, different writing assignments?
______ Will students revise at least one assignment after receiving your review comments?
______ Does at least one assignment require students to produce finished, edited prose (as differentiated from whatever informal or draft writing you have included)?
______ Are written assignments (in-class; out-of-class) worth at least 50% of the course grade?
For Type I (Professor Commitment) Writing-Intensive Courses:
______ Have you attended a writing workshop either at IUP or elsewhere? [If not, have you indicated at least equivalent preparation based on such things as graduate education, teaching experience in writing courses, publications, conference attendance, or other professional activities?]
For Type II (Departmental) Writing-Intensive Courses:
______ Does your "statement of departmental responsibility" explain how the department will ensure that the writing component is present regardless of who is teaching? Does it identify the specific department group or individual who is responsible for ensuring this?
Part I. Request for Approval to Use W-Designation Form
This form (see previous pages or Appendix B) lists all of the components of a proposal for a W-designation course.
Please Number All Pages
Procedures for Approval of a W-Designation Course
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| Department Approval | |
| College Dean Approval | |
| Liberal Studies Committee Approval | |
| UWUCC Informed of LSC Action | |
| Senate Informed of LSC Action |