Four Kinds of W Courses
The following four kinds of W courses are currently in existence:
Always W: courses that are designated as W whenever they are taught.
DESCRIPTION
Since W-designated courses are limited to 30
students, upper-division courses required of all majors are
good candidates for the always W category.
Usually, these courses are existing 3 hour, 3 credit courses that have always included 10-15 pages of evaluated writing, essay exams (if appropriate) and some writing instruction (like coordinating peer editing groups or leading class discussions on organization, for example.)
Courses in this category can only be offered as W courses and therefore always carry a W in the QUASAR course matrix, the QC Undergraduate Bulletin, and the Schedule of Classes.
Two examples: Women's Studies 201W: Theories of Feminism and History 392W: Colloquium.
SUBMISSION MATERIALS
To have an existing course designated
as always W, prepare a written request to that effect and include the following with the request:
If you are proposing a new course and would like that course designated as always W, please make sure that your new course proposal includes an explanation of how the course will meet the "W" criteria. Both a cover letter and the course syllabus should clearly articulate how the course meets the 4 criteria for writing-intensive courses (as applicable). In particular, please clarify the kinds of writing that will be assigned and assessed; the page requirements for each assignment; and how the required "10-15 pages of evaluated writing" is being distributed in "three or more assignments (either separate papers or one term paper done in stages) so that students have the opportunity to develop and improve." Please also specify - in a cover letter, on the syllabus, or both - how the course will fulfill the requirement for "some attention to writing in class."
Send written requests along with accompanying material to WISC.
Sometimes W: courses that departments and programs want the option of offering as W courses, either on an occasional basis or on a sectional basis
DESCRIPTION
The QUASAR course matrix includes both a regular and a W designation (i.e.
Am St110 and AmSt 110W) and the Schedule of Classes lists the regular
and/or W sections being offered that semester. The QC Undergraduate Bulletin
uses two numbers (i.e. Classics 250, 250W Ancient Epic Tragedy) but only
one course description follows.
SUBMISSION MATERIALS
To apply for either an existing course
or a newly proposed course in a W
version, prepare a written request to that effect and include the following
with your request:
Both a cover letter and the course syllabus should clearly articulate how the course meets the 4 criteria for writing-intensive courses (as applicable). In particular, please clarify the kinds of writing that will be assigned and assessed; the page requirements for each assignment; and how the required "10-15 pages of evaluated writing" is being distributed in "three or more assignments (either separate papers or one term paper done in stages) so that students have the opportunity to develop and improve." Please also specify - in a cover letter, on the syllabus, or both - how the course will fulfill the requirement for "some attention to writing in class."
Send written requests along with accompanying material to WISC.
135W. Writing Workshop: a 1 hour, 1 credit workshop that can be attached on a co-requisite basis to an existing subject matter course
DESCRIPTION
Prereq.: English 110
This Workshop is added-on to a subject matter course on a co-requisite basis. "Co-requisite" means that all students registered in the subject matter course must also register for the Writing Workshop and vice versa.
The Writing Workshop meets for 50 minutes per week to work on writing that is integral to the subject matter of the main course.
The instructor of the subject-matter course must teach one or more of the course's writing workshops.
The writing work-load criteria for all W-courses apply to Writing Workshops.
A student will be assigned the same grade for both the subject matter course and its co-requisite Workshop.
Writing Workshops can be repeated for credit.
SUBMISSION MATERIALS
To have a 135W Writing Workshop course added to your department's or program's
course list (e.g. Sociology 135W), prepare a written request . This request
should indicate that you understand the criteria for all W-designated
courses as well as the special criteria for the Writing Workshop add-ons.
Both a cover letter and the course syllabus should clearly articulate
how the course meets the 4 criteria for writing-intensive courses (as
applicable). In particular, please clarify the kinds of writing that will
be assigned and assessed; the page requirements for each assignment; and
how the required "10-15 pages of evaluated writing" is being
distributed in "three or more assignments (either separate papers
or one term paper done in stages) so that students have the opportunity
to develop and improve." Please also specify - in a cover letter,
on the syllabus, or both - how the course will fulfill the requirement
for "some attention to writing in class."
Send written requests along with accompanying material to WISC.
134W. Writing Tutorial: the 1 hour, 1 credit Writing Tutorial can be attached on a co-registration basis to an existing subject matter course
DESCRIPTION
Prereq.: English 110
This Tutorial is added-on to a subject matter course on a co-registration basis. "Co-registration" means that all students in a writing tutorial must be in the same subject-matter course, but all students in the subject-matter course need not be in the writing tutorial. So, there can be a 75-person lecture course with only one, 30 person writing tutorial add-on.
The Tutorial meets for 50 minutes per week to work on writing that is relevant to the subject matter of the main course.
The instructor of the subject-matter course must teach one or more of the attached writing tutorials.
The writing work-load criteria for all W-courses must apply to Writing Tutorials.
Writing Tutorials can be repeated for credit.
This W option raises questions of equity: some students are taking the add-on, while others aren't. Hence, Writing Tutorials are only approved on an experimental basis. In 2001, the experiment will be assessed; if the Senate then decides to continue with this option, departments and programs will have to submit new requests.
SUBMISSION MATERIALS
To add Writing Tutorials to one or more subject-matter courses, prepare
a written request for a 134W Writing Tutorial course to be added to your
department's or program's course list (e.g. History 134W). The request
should indicate that you understand the criteria for all W-designated
courses as well as the special criteria for the Writing Tutorial add-ons.
Both a cover letter and the course syllabus should clearly articulate
how the course meets the 4 criteria for writing-intensive courses (as
applicable). In particular, please clarify the kinds of writing that will
be assigned and assessed; the page requirements for each assignment; and
how the required "10-15 pages of evaluated writing" is being
distributed in "three or more assignments (either separate papers
or one term paper done in stages) so that students have the opportunity
to develop and improve." Please also specify - in a cover letter,
on the syllabus, or both - how the course will fulfill the requirement
for "some attention to writing in class."
Send written requests along with accompanying material to WISC.
