Welcome to UHMC’s Writing Intensive homepage.  This page provides information for instructors of WI classes, as well as hints, insights and resources for teaching a WI class.  Follow the links to find out about WI, or contact the UHMC Writing Intensive Coordinator Neil Stotts at [email protected] for more information.

UHMC—Writing Intensive mission statement: 

At UHMC, courses designated Writing Intensive provide students greater opportunities to explore and express their ideas thru writing. In smaller classes with more instructor attention, WI courses support students in the application of college-level thinking and writing.  

How to designate a course WI—:

• Courses must apply the UH system-wide Writing Intensive (WI) hallmarks described below
• WI hallmarks must appear on the syllabus
• Complete a WI designation form, found here
• New designation and renewal requests must be submitted at least one semester in advance
• WI courses are approved by committee consensus

 

UHMC—WI policies:

• Instructors who teach a WI— designated course attend one WI meeting per semester as a committee member to designate and renew courses, participate in instructional development, and share best practices
• WI designation is specific to individual courses and instructors and lasts for two years, at which point designation must be renewed
• Course assignments and teaching methods should be in harmony with the WI Hallmarks and UHMC’s WI Criteria (2008)

 

University of Hawai‘i Writing Intensive (WI) hallmarks:

1. This course uses writing to promote the learning of course materials. Instructors assign formal and informal writing, both in class and out, to increase students' understanding of course material as well as to improve writing skills.

2. This course provides interaction between teacher and students while students do assigned writing; in effect, the instructor acts as an expert and the student as an apprentice in a community of writers.  Types of interaction will vary.  For example, a professor who requires the completion of one long essay may review sections of the essay, write comments on drafts, and be available for conferences.  The professor who requires several short papers may demonstrate techniques for drafting and revising in the classroom, give guidance during the composition of the papers, and consult with students after they complete their papers.

3. Writing contributes significantly to each student's grade in this course. Writing assignments must make up at least 40% of each student's course grade. If not, the course syllabus must state that students must satisfactorily complete all writing assignments to pass the course with a "D" or better.

4. This course requires students to do a substantial amount of writing--a minimum of 4000 words, or about 16 pages. This may include informal writing.  Depending on the course content, students may write analytic essays, critical reviews, journals, lab reports, research reports, or reaction papers, etc. In-class exams and drafts are not counted toward the 4000-word minimum.

5. To allow for meaningful professor-student interaction on each student's writing, this class is restricted to 20 students. Professors who team-teach or who are assisted by a teaching assistant may request that the enrollment be higher as long as a 20-to-1 student to faculty ratio is maintained.