Intro to Writing in the Disciplines | Spring 2021

12-1pm Wednesdays; May 5, 12, 19, 26, & June 2

Workshop Description

This five-part workshop is designed to create space for faculty to consider the ways in which writing operates within their discipline and to develop ideas around how best to effectively and efficiently embed writing into their disciplinary courses. It provides evidence-based teaching strategies for using writing to enhance students' learning, critical thinking, and written communication practices. Whether you currently use writing in your curriculum or not, this workshop invites you to consider the following: 

• The benefits of "low stakes" and "high stakes" writing activities
• Genres appropriate to your discipline that may help prepare students for professional success
• Characteristics of effective writing assignment design
• The use of peer review to build class community and deepen critical engagement
• Strategies for incorporating revision and reflection into the writing process

We are offering this program as part of our efforts to offer more opportunities for faculty to investigate the profound value of including writing activities and practices in their curriculum, whether disciplinary or generalist, during every phase of students' time at Cal Poly. We hope to continue to offer this and other writing in the curriculum programs on a quarterly basis. Participating in this program is a way for you to contribute in concrete and powerful ways to Cal Poly's goals of preparing Cal Poly graduates to enter their professional fields and personal lives as rhetorically savvy critical thinkers and communicators.

This workshop series is intended as a precursor to an upcoming CTLT & OWLI offering entitled “Course Redesign with Writing in Mind,” which aligns with campus efforts to expand Graduation Writing Requirement (GWR) courses across the curriculum.

Register to join

Stipend Information and Time Commitment

This is workshop incorporates five weekly 1-hour synchronous discussions along with self-paced reviews of online materials and some reflective activities. It is designed for faculty and instructors who currently teach at Cal Poly. A $100 stipend (eligibility subject to university policies) is available for those who complete all components of the workshop: the weekly self-paced readings, activities and reflections, five synchronous meetings, and a final reflection about change(s) faculty may make to their courses on the basis of what they learn as part of this experience, as well as suggestions to workshop leaders for improving this and future Teaching with Writing workshops. 

Time commitment is 2-3 hours per week for a total of 10-15 hours, depending on prior knowledge, skill level and experience.