WAC News

The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) committee conducted its fourth review of syllabi from all writing-intensive courses (WI) in fulfillment of its Faculty Senate charge for ongoing assessment of the requirement. Following is a brief summary of the main findings for 2010-2011.

• 47 designated WI courses were taught in Fall 2010 (out of a total of 52 across all undergraduate programs).
• Approximately 75% of the collected syllabi met all WI guidelines.
• Approximately 25% of the collected syllabi were missing necessary WI information or requirement.
• Of the 25% of syllabi missing information, most of these courses were taught by faculty new to the WI requirement.
• There seems to be some correlation between the amount of information given on the WI syllabus and Graduating Senior Survey results.

We encourage faculty to incorporate the following best practices for teaching with writing in any course:

• assign shorter papers due at intervals throughout the semester or divide a single term paper project into stages that receive feedback;
• give written assignments rather than verbal instructions or a short note in the syllabus;
• explain how the assignment connects to learning goals in the course;
• offer advice on what constitutes successful writing in the course;
• provide evaluation criteria with the assignment to convey writing expectations; and
• align feedback and evaluation. criteria to course learning and writing goals.

Watch for the debut of a “re-visioned” The George Mason Review (website will be available Fall 2011), an undergraduate journal featuring exemplary writing across the curriculum, produced for the first time by an all-undergraduate editorial board that revised the mission statement and goals for the Review, created a new logo and design, and set up a submissions peer review committee. Faculty advisors Lynne Constantine, School of Art, and WAC director Terry Zawacki were privileged to work with these exceptional students: editor in chief Paula Salamoun; assistant editor Justin Voigt; managing editor Candace Baker; art director Brittany Hill; marketing director Rheal Radwany; marketing director Iman Bahabib; and graduate advisor Jay Patel.

Just out! A new edition of “Writing in the Disciplines: Advice and Models,” a supplement to the popular handbook A Writer’s Reference includes a chapter on “Writing in Criminal Justice,” written by Terry Zawacki in collaboration with Devon Johnson and Shannon Portillo, faculty in Criminology, Law, and Society. This chapter, along with chapters on “Writing in Business” and “Writing in Nursing,” includes sample papers written by Mason students.

Terry Zawacki, WAC director, and Paul Rogers, incoming director of the Northern Virginia Writing Project, co-edited Writing Across the Curriculum: A Critical Sourcebook, published by Bedford/St Martin’s.

CONGRATULATIONS to WAC director Terry Zawacki on winning a 2011 Teaching Excellence Award.

Check out the 2010-2011 Student Writing Excellence Award winners.