Designing Effective Writing Assignments SLCC Faculty Convention 2012 Allison Fernley, Tiffany Rousculp, Stephen Ruffus SLCC English Department

Setting Context, Formulating Purpose Why talk about student writing at SLCC?

Writing-Across-the Curriculum Survey Results 104 Responses 95% of respondents’ courses included writing assignments More than 30 different types of writing assignments

Types of Writing Research papers Personal essay/themes Reading responses Analytical papers Short answer exams Journals Case Studies Abstracts/summaries Essay tests Argumentative essays Lab Reports Technical documents Public documents Business Plans Reflective writings Ethnographic observations Personal Interview Papers Blog Entries Resume and Cover Letter Management Paper E-Portfolios Discussion Writings Memos Proposals Evaluations Online Discussions Legal Case Briefs Advertising Copy Copy on Packaging Business Letters Reviews Responses to Critical Thinking Questions Brochures Book Reports News Media

Discussion Do your students seem to understand the expectations of your writing assignments? Does the writing that students produce respond well to your writing assignments?

Elements in Writing Assignments 95% of WAC survey respondents said assignments were provided in writing or on the syllabus. Description of Assignment – 95% Purpose of Assignment – 81% Due Dates – 79% Evaluative Criteria – 77% Process(es) for Completing Assignment – 66% Topic – 65% Context for Writing – 58% Citation Requirements - 52% Sample Papers – 29% Info about Student Writing Center – 20% Audience, Sources, Prompts – 1%

Writing Assignment Best Practices Clearly explain purpose(s) of assignment Articulate your expectations of the genre Use active language to describe writing tasks Identify audience, both real and imagined Provide specific evaluative criteria and expectations Rubrics A Question of Length? Offer samples of writing Assign process steps Discuss assignment in class Make students aware of Student Writing Center Provide opportunities to revise

Collaborating/Consulting Allison Fernley, Taylorsville-Redwood Student Writing Center Tiffany Rousculp, South City Campus Student Writing Center