New Model of Writing

NEW MODEL OF WRITING

Through the new curriculum the Wheaton faculty adopted in December 2001, Wheaton has committed itself to establishing writing instruction in every college department. The new model for writing instruction at Wheaton is based, at least in part, on the following four principles:

At a liberal arts college, attention to writing is, to some extent, everyone's responsibility,
Learning to write well is a gradual developmental process that cannot be accomplished in a single semester.
Students work on and improve their writing when its importance is underscored by an instructor's willingness not merely to apply high standards when grading but also to provide the kinds of information and advice students need in order to meet those standards.
Correcting errors in students' papers is not the same as teaching them how to avoid those errors.

Starting with these principles, each department at Wheaton is now developing its own approach to writing instruction in the major.

Last update: 9/12/02