Why Include Writing in My Courses?
Research has shown that writing is a highly effective mode of learning across all disciplines that can help your students.
- Engage more deeply with course material
- Think critically & solve complex, discipline-specific problems
- Meet learning outcomes & retain course content
- Seek advice & feedback about their learning
- Become more proficient thinkers and communicators in their future careers
Including meaningful writing assignments in your course can also help you, the instructor to:
- Gauge how well your students are grasping course material
- Have livelier & more thoughtful class discussions
- Get to know your students better
For more information, please see the following research studies:
- Drabick, D.A.G., Weisberg, R., Paul, L., & Bubier, J.L. (2007).
Keeping it short and sweet: Brief, ungraded writing assignments facilitate learning.
Teaching of Psychology, 34(3), 172-176.
- Hynd, C., Holschuh, J.P., & Hubbard, B.P. (2004).
Thinking like a historian: College students' reading of multiple historical documents.
Journal of Literacy Research, 36(2), 141-176.
- Patterson, L.M. & Slinger-Friedman, V. (2012).
Writing in undergraduate geography classes: Faculty challenges and rewards.
Journal of Geography, 111(5), 184-193.
- Quitadamo, L.J., & Kurtz, M.J. (2007).
Learning to Improve: Using Writing to Increase Critical Thinking Performance in General Education Biology.
CBE - Life Sciences Education, 6, 140-154.
- Reynolds, J.A., Thaiss, C., Katkin, W., & Thompson, B.J., Jr. (2012).
Writing-to-learn in undergraduate science education: A community-based, conceptually driven approach.
CBE - Life Sciences, Education, 11, 17-25.