Category A4: Speaking and Writing Course Guidelines

Communicating with the World

Speaking and Writing Elective: This category can be met with any course in A1, A2, or A3; and have significant writing or speaking practice designed in the course. A course that meets the requirements for writing the elective may also receive separate approval to count in this section.

Learning Objectives

SLO 1: Communicate clearly and effectively orally.
SLO 5: Demonstrate the ability to retrieve, interpret, and evaluate information.

Guidelines

  1. "CMP 100 level course" is required as a pre-requisite on the master syllabus.

  2. Writing assignments will be an integral part of the course. Students should practice forms of writing typical of the discipline in which the course is taught. Writing assignments designed to develop and increase content knowledge.

  3. There will be a required number of papers or words, with assignments distributed throughout the course. Students should submit at least 4000-5000 words of formal, graded writing across at least two assignments. Examples of formal writing assignments may include research papers, analytical essays, position papers, theme papers, essay questions on exams, creative writing, lesson plans, lab reports, mathematical proofs, etc.

  4. There will be opportunities for revision and resubmission. At least one formal assignment should be structured and sequenced to allow students to improve their writing skills through practice and revision. Drafts may be read and critiqued by both the instructor and peers, with the instructor providing substantive feedback. Feedback and revision should go beyond pointing out surface errors.

  5. Writing assignments will constitute a significant portion of the course grade and content. At least 50% of the course grade and content should be based on writing assignments.

  6. Informal writing assignments may be incorporated into the coursework. In addition to formal writing, students may complete assignments that are expressive, reflective, or observational in nature to offer their perceptions informally and increase their writing practice. Blogs and chatroom contributions, such as those used in online courses, will not count toward the formal writing component. However, other assignments submitted to the professor in online courses may count if they meet the basic requirements listed above.

  7. There will be assignment-related instruction and evaluation of papers. Instructors will provide guidance on how to write, conduct research, review, revise, and mark writing assignments. They will also offer guidelines for the ethical use of sources and avoidance of plagiarism. For example, an instructor may teach directed lessons on research techniques or provide grading rubrics and feedback checklists. The first-day handout should include how these lessons will be covered in the semester schedule.