There are 3 activities for you to complete. Each activity builds on the preceding activity.

Activity 1: How is writing used in your Discipline? 

First, think about how writing is used in your discipline. Then answer the following questions.

1. How is writing used in your discipline? Or why do you write in your field?
2. Why should students write more in your classes?
3. How do you address the students' needs to write in your courses?

Next, answer the questions that are suggested below. These questions are from  Tips for Designing Effective Writing Assignments

1. What are the purposes and/or goals of writing in your discipline and/or in your course(s)?
2. What will students need to successfully complete assignments in your discipline and/or course(s)?
3. How will they go about completing these assignments?
4. Who is the audience?
5. What is the timetable?
6. Who will be evaluated? When? By whom?

Activity 2: Design or Improve a Writing Activity for your course/curriculum.

Identify a writing activity that you want to develop or improve in one of your courses or in your curriculum.

1. Identify the writing assignment. Use the questions, again, from Activity 1 and review the writing activity. Summarize your assessment.
2. Is this a WAC, Writing to Learn, or WID activity?
3. Is it primarily a low stakes or high stakes writing activity?
4. If it is a high stakes activity, do you incorporate low stakes activities and/or which low stakes activities will you incorporate into the process of getting students ready to complete the high stakes activity? 
5. What active learning techniques will you use to implement this writing activity?
6. What changes are you going to make in the instructions and process for the assignment(s) to more clearly delineate low stakes activities from high stakes activities?
7. What do you expect your students' responses to the revised writing activity(s) will be? How can you prepare yourself to answer their questions, address their concerns, and help them to become comfortable with the revised writing activities?

Activity 3: Design a Rubric for your Writing Activity.

Develop a writing assessment, using a matrix for the writing activity that you developed and/or improved in Activity 2.