wsu composition program orientation (2009) overview

WSU WSU Composition ProgramComposition ProgramOrientation (2009)Orientation (2009)

OverviewOverview

Ellen BartonEllen BartonDirector of CompositionDirector of Composition

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

August 25, 2009August 25, 2009 Composition Program OrientationComposition Program Orientation 22

Central QuestionsCentral Questions

Who are our WSU students, Who are our WSU students, demographically/academically?demographically/academically?

What are our composition courses at What are our composition courses at WSU?WSU? General Education requirementsGeneral Education requirements

What are the goals of the What are the goals of the Composition Program at WSU?Composition Program at WSU? New Common Syllabus projectNew Common Syllabus project


Demographic ProfileDemographic Profile

Demographics Demographics (2006, 2007, 2008, or 2009 (2006, 2007, 2008, or 2009 information, from multiple and conflicting sources)information, from multiple and conflicting sources)

WSU enrollment – 33,000WSU enrollment – 33,000 Undergraduates – 21, 000 (64%)Undergraduates – 21, 000 (64%)

tri-country residents – 88%tri-country residents – 88% income – 50% under 50K (family)income – 50% under 50K (family) financial aid – 70%financial aid – 70% work (FT or PT) – 86%work (FT or PT) – 86% gender -- gender -- ♂♂ 42%, 42%, ♀♀ 58% 58% age (median) – 22 (national – 22)age (median) – 22 (national – 22) 11stst generation college students – “many” generation college students – “many”


Demographic ProfileDemographic Profile

Undergraduates – 21,000Undergraduates – 21,000 FT/PT – FT 59%, PT 41%FT/PT – FT 59%, PT 41% FT age = 22, PT age = 29FT age = 22, PT age = 29 race/ethnicityrace/ethnicity

Caucasian-AmericanCaucasian-American 48%48% African-AmericanAfrican-American 31%31% Asian-AmericanAsian-American 6% 6% Hispanic-AmericanHispanic-American 3% 3% Other/UnknownOther/Unknown 12%12%

6-year graduation rate – 34% 6-year graduation rate – 34% (FTIACs)(FTIACs)


Demographic ProfileDemographic Profile WSU FreshmenWSU Freshmen

FT/PT – FT – 90%, PT – 10%FT/PT – FT – 90%, PT – 10% age (average) – 18 (national -- 18)age (average) – 18 (national -- 18) gender – gender – ♂♂ 40%, 40%, ♀♀ 60% 60% ethnicityethnicity

Caucasian-AmericanCaucasian-American 42%42% African-AmericanAfrican-American 37%37% Asian-AmericanAsian-American 8% 8% Hispanic-AmericanHispanic-American 3% 3% Other/UnknownOther/Unknown 10% 10%

11stst generation college students – “many” generation college students – “many” graduation rates -- ??? (focus on retention)graduation rates -- ??? (focus on retention)


Academic ProfileAcademic Profile

ACT scores ACT scores (2008 information)(2008 information) WSU ACT composite – 20.4WSU ACT composite – 20.4

national composite – 22.1national composite – 22.1 WSU ACT English – 20.1WSU ACT English – 20.1

national English – 21.8national English – 21.8 WSU ACT Reading – 20.4WSU ACT Reading – 20.4

national Reading – 22.5national Reading – 22.5 WSU admission standardsWSU admission standards

ACT composite 21 or 2.75 HS GPAACT composite 21 or 2.75 HS GPA special admissions – TRIO, BCS, DCEspecial admissions – TRIO, BCS, DCE

Academic Profile*Academic Profile*(*ACT College Readiness Reports) (*ACT College Readiness Reports)

ACT reading – 20.4ACT reading – 20.4 draw simple generalizations and draw simple generalizations and

conclusions in uncomplicated passagesconclusions in uncomplicated passages ACT English – 19.9ACT English – 19.9

identify basic purposes, central ideas, identify basic purposes, central ideas, relevancy of material, basic mechanicsrelevancy of material, basic mechanics


Academic Profile*Academic Profile*(*ACT College Readiness Reports(*ACT College Readiness Reports) )

ACT Writing (extrapolated/6)ACT Writing (extrapolated/6) taking a position, limited focus and taking a position, limited focus and

development, simple organization, basic development, simple organization, basic word choice, multiple errors that impede word choice, multiple errors that impede meaningmeaning

Correlation w/ WSU placementCorrelation w/ WSU placement ACT ACT << 20 20 ENG 1010 – 55% ENG 1010 – 55% ACT ACT >> 21 21 ENG 1020 – 45% ENG 1020 – 45%


Academic Profile*Academic Profile*(*ACT College Readiness Reports) (*ACT College Readiness Reports)

Reading and writing in high schoolReading and writing in high school top reason for high h.s. dropout rate – top reason for high h.s. dropout rate –

lack of literacy skillslack of literacy skills w/ complex textsw/ complex texts

lack of explicit instruction in reading and lack of explicit instruction in reading and writingwriting

low expectationslow expectations little, if any, writinglittle, if any, writing little, if any, non-narrative writing little, if any, non-narrative writing



Demographic/Academic ProfilesDemographic/Academic Profiles

Composition classes Composition classes (ACT info, WSU lore)(ACT info, WSU lore) considerable demographic diversityconsiderable demographic diversity considerable variation in preparednessconsiderable variation in preparedness

use high school strategiesuse high school strategies need instruction in reading strategiesneed instruction in reading strategies need experience in writing processneed experience in writing process

multiple drafts and feedbackmultiple drafts and feedback need introduction to academic discourse and need introduction to academic discourse and

genresgenres need college-level research and technology need college-level research and technology

skillsskills

Academic Profile – Goals*Academic Profile – Goals* (*ACT College Readiness Reports) (*ACT College Readiness Reports)

Reading – read complex textsReading – read complex texts materials w/ sizable amounts of data, materials w/ sizable amounts of data,

difficult concepts embedded in text, difficult concepts embedded in text, intricate explanations, advanced intricate explanations, advanced vocabularyvocabulary

Writing – produce complex textsWriting – produce complex texts sophisticated rhetorical purpose, critical sophisticated rhetorical purpose, critical

position, development w/ multiple position, development w/ multiple perspectives, correct conventions of textperspectives, correct conventions of text



WSU Composition CoursesWSU Composition Courses

General Education ProgramGeneral Education Program ““[Gen Ed] requirements contribute to [Gen Ed] requirements contribute to

the goal of ensuring that all students the goal of ensuring that all students have the basic *have the basic *skills*skills* fundamental to fundamental to success in college while simultaneously success in college while simultaneously achieving the intellectual breadth achieving the intellectual breadth necessary to place specialized and necessary to place specialized and professional curricula in proper professional curricula in proper *perspective*.” *perspective*.”


WSU Composition CoursesWSU Composition Courses General Education CompetenciesGeneral Education Competencies

written communication (BC/IC), oral written communication (BC/IC), oral communication (OC)communication (OC)

BC/Basic Composition – 4 cr./ENG 1020*BC/Basic Composition – 4 cr./ENG 1020* *ENG 1010 remedial to 1020*ENG 1010 remedial to 1020

IC/Intermediate Composition – 3 cr./ENG IC/Intermediate Composition – 3 cr./ENG 3010/3020, Lit&Writing (7), ENG 30503010/3020, Lit&Writing (7), ENG 3050

WI/Writing Intensive – 3 cr./in majorWI/Writing Intensive – 3 cr./in major Total – 10 credit hours*Total – 10 credit hours*

*far more than any other competency*far more than any other competency Retention goal – early completion of Retention goal – early completion of

competencies (ENG 1010/1020 especially)competencies (ENG 1010/1020 especially)

WSU Composition CoursesWSU Composition Courses English Department courses*English Department courses*

ENG 1010 – Basic WritingENG 1010 – Basic Writing Eng 1020 -- Intro College Writing (BC)Eng 1020 -- Intro College Writing (BC) ENG 3010 – Intermediate Writing (IC)ENG 3010 – Intermediate Writing (IC) ENG 3020 – Writing and Community (IC)ENG 3020 – Writing and Community (IC) ENG Lit&Writing (IC)ENG Lit&Writing (IC) ENG 3050 – Technical Writing I: Reports (IC)ENG 3050 – Technical Writing I: Reports (IC) ENG 3060 – Technical Writing II: Presentations ENG 3060 – Technical Writing II: Presentations

(OC)(OC)

*more than any other department*more than any other department



WSU Composition CoursesWSU Composition Courses Placement*Placement*

*based on a study correlating ACT scores to *based on a study correlating ACT scores to passing grades in 1020passing grades in 1020

ENG 1010 – ACT English ENG 1010 – ACT English << 20 20 F, 2008 placement – 55%F, 2008 placement – 55%

ENG 1020 – ACT English ENG 1020 – ACT English >> 21 21 F, 2008 placement – 45%F, 2008 placement – 45%

English Qualifying ExamEnglish Qualifying Exam F, 2008 placement – 53%/47%F, 2008 placement – 53%/47%

2008-09 mandated placement2008-09 mandated placement English Permit-to-Register systemEnglish Permit-to-Register system



Gen Ed WC pre-requisites and Gen Ed WC pre-requisites and graduation requirementsgraduation requirements effective Fall, 2008 (grandfathering)effective Fall, 2008 (grandfathering) BC (ENG 1020) -- C or better graduation BC (ENG 1020) -- C or better graduation

requirementrequirement BC BC IC (ENG 3010, …) -- C or better pre- IC (ENG 3010, …) -- C or better pre-

requisite in BC (ENG 1020)requisite in BC (ENG 1020) IC (ENG 3010, …) -- C or better graduation IC (ENG 3010, …) -- C or better graduation

requirementrequirement IC IC WI (Writing Intensive in the major) -- C or WI (Writing Intensive in the major) -- C or

better pre-requisite in IC (ENG 3010, …)better pre-requisite in IC (ENG 3010, …) WI – C or better graduation requirementWI – C or better graduation requirement



English DepartmentEnglish Department F, 2009 -- 68% of undergraduate F, 2009 -- 68% of undergraduate

sections are Composition sections are Composition (126/186 up to (126/186 up to 6000-level)6000-level)

ENG 1010ENG 1010 37/20%37/20% ENG 1020ENG 1020 46/25%46/25% ENG 3010ENG 3010 24/13%24/13% Lit & WritingLit & Writing 11/6%11/6% ENG 3050ENG 3050 5/3% 5/3% ENG 3060ENG 3060 3/2% 3/2%


Goals of Composition ProgramGoals of Composition Program teach as General Education coursesteach as General Education courses

academic discourseacademic discourse writing across the universitywriting across the university evaluation (evaluation ( assessment) assessment)

teach w/in a common curriculum [NCS]teach w/in a common curriculum [NCS] learning objectives – reading, research, writing, learning objectives – reading, research, writing,

technologytechnology teach as teach as *writing* *writing* coursescourses

substantive attention to student writing in substantive attention to student writing in every class periodevery class period

evaluate w/ grading guidelinesevaluate w/ grading guidelines teach w/ quality supportteach w/ quality support


Goals of Composition ProgramGoals of Composition Program

Gen Ed – learning objectives modelGen Ed – learning objectives model BC -- based on WPA Outcomes StatementBC -- based on WPA Outcomes Statement NCS learning objectives -- reading, NCS learning objectives -- reading,

research, writing, and technologyresearch, writing, and technology ENG 1010 – intro to writing processENG 1010 – intro to writing process ENG 1020 (BC) – intro to writing in college ENG 1020 (BC) – intro to writing in college

coursescourses ENG 3010 (IC) – intro to writing across the ENG 3010 (IC) – intro to writing across the

universityuniversity Evaluation/grading guidelines Evaluation/grading guidelines

(( assessment) assessment)


Goals of Composition ProgramGoals of Composition Program New Common Syllabus projectNew Common Syllabus project

course descriptioncourse description learning objectiveslearning objectives required textbooksrequired textbooks writing requirements (page counts)writing requirements (page counts) genre assignmentsgenre assignments

ENG 1010 – summary, response, analysis, ENG 1010 – summary, response, analysis, argumentargument

ENG 1020 – 1 analysis, 2 arguments (all ENG 1020 – 1 analysis, 2 arguments (all research-based)research-based)

technologiestechnologies grading guidelinesgrading guidelines


Goals of Composition ProgramGoals of Composition Program Consistent gradingConsistent grading

January Grading Workshops January Grading Workshops assessment planningassessment planning

grading guidelinesgrading guidelines A – up to 20%A – up to 20% (c. 5/24)(c. 5/24) B – up to 30%B – up to 30% (c. 7/24)(c. 7/24) C/C+ – up to 30% C/C+ – up to 30% (c. 7/24)(c. 7/24) C- C- or below* or below* -- apx. 25% (c. 6/24)-- apx. 25% (c. 6/24)

*includes withdrawals*includes withdrawals ““Students will rise to the occasion.”Students will rise to the occasion.” NCS – hints for teaching to guidelines NCS – hints for teaching to guidelines

(make assignments challenging!)(make assignments challenging!)


Goals of Composition ProgramGoals of Composition Program Quality supportQuality support

support for teachingsupport for teaching Orientations, workshops, wikiOrientations, workshops, wiki WSU OTL (Office for Teaching and Learning) WSU OTL (Office for Teaching and Learning)

– appointments and workshops– appointments and workshops support for studentssupport for students

Writing CenterWriting Center in-person and on-line tutoringin-person and on-line tutoring GTA and professional tutorsGTA and professional tutors

WSU Academic Success Center – WSU Academic Success Center – appointments and workshopsappointments and workshops

suggestions? (suggestions? ([email protected]) )



Goals of Composition ProgramGoals of Composition Program WSU Writing CenterWSU Writing Center

2310 Undergraduate Library (UGL)2310 Undergraduate Library (UGL) 7-25447-2544 http://www.clas.wayne.edu/writing/

WSU Composition Faculty HandbookWSU Composition Faculty Handbook wiki address:wiki address: http://wsucompositionfacultyhandbook.pbworks.com wiki password: teachingwiki password: teaching

DofC – DofC – [email protected] Phone – 7-7696Phone – 7-7696 Fall office hours: M,T,W,F -- 11:30 – 4:30Fall office hours: M,T,W,F -- 11:30 – 4:30

http://www.clas.wayne.edu/writing/

http://wsucompositionfacultyhandbook.pbworks.com/



Administrative MattersAdministrative Matters Syllabus checklist/EnglishSyllabus checklist/English New Common Syllabus/CompositionNew Common Syllabus/Composition

mandatory for ENG 1010/1020, ENG 3050mandatory for ENG 1010/1020, ENG 3050 syllabus review -- NCS mandatory elementssyllabus review -- NCS mandatory elements grading review – NCS guidelinesgrading review – NCS guidelines

Plagiarism Policy/English*Plagiarism Policy/English* SafeAssignment on BlackboardSafeAssignment on Blackboard *all cases discussed w/ Asst/Assoc Chair*all cases discussed w/ Asst/Assoc Chair

Grade challenges/English Grade challenges/English Contact info/EnglishContact info/English

Royanne Smith – Royanne Smith – [email protected] Phone – 7-7701Phone – 7-7701


wsu composition program orientation (2009) overview

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