Note: This is the first in a series of posts that will serve as a guide for teachers who wish to integrate writing into their courses. All posts will be available here.
Why use writing assignments?
As a teaching tool, writing assignments provide rich information about the degree to which students are achieving course and program goals, information that may be used for assessment as well as teaching improvement. As a learning tool, writing provides opportunities for students to
- understand key concepts and ideas
- engage with the subject matter
- communicate with different audiences
- use the language of the discipline
- process and retain information
- collaborate with peers
- construct knowledge in discipline-appropriate ways
- practice research, scholarship, and creative activity
- reflect on personal experience
- develop professional identity and expertise
- publish or document work
- articulate prior knowledge or misconceptions
Writing intersects with many teaching and learning goals, but the development of writing abilities is also an end in itself. Throughout their college careers, students continue to build on the literacy skills they developed in first-year composition (see WPA Outcomes Statement).
