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General Education Core Curriculum Requirements for Writing-Intensive (G) Courses

  • One of the learning outcomes must be the development of a student’s ability to communicate in writing in the course’s discipline The course must have the following as one of its stated student learning outcomes: Students will be able to use the writing process to develop critical thinking skills, create research-based writing, and support a central point using disciplinary conventions.

  • Writing assignments must support the student’s development of the General Education Communication Outcome listed below.†

  • At least fifty percent of the student’s final grade must be based upon a series of written assignments (not a collection of short-answer paragraphs) that produce ten to fourteen pages (2,500-3,500 words) of polished student work or the equivalent in an audio/visual (multi-modal) format.*

  • At least half of the writing assessed (25% of the final grade) must require students to identify, evaluate, select, integrate, and document relevant source materials using MLA, APA, Chicago Style, or other appropriate documentation format.***

  • The writing in the course must show evidence of critical reading and critical thinking skills appropriate to the discipline.

  • The course must emphasize the writing process. The syllabus, statements of instructional method, and individual assignments should incorporate writing development strategies such as brainstorming, outlining, thesis development, peer review, conferences with the instructor, drafts, revisions, and technology tools. Alternatively, faculty may require a series of 4-5 writing assignments, graded with feedback, that build to a final product.

It is suggested, though not required, that WI courses incorporate mandatory Learning Center writing tutor assistance and have “embedded” librarians.

*It is recommended that for General Education courses (as opposed to a capstone course in a student’s discipline) faculty assign 2-5 papers in the 3-7-page range or its equivalent in an audio/visual (multi-modal) format.

**Examples of research-based writing may include—in addition to traditional research papers—annotated bibliographies, business plans, lab reports, literature reviews, op-eds, podcasts, scientific research reports (IMRaDs), speeches, videos, web pages, and others.

***Journalism is an exception, as no citations are required.