WSU Composition Program Orientation Overview Ellen Barton Director of Composition

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation2 Central Questions Who are our WSU students, and what is their academic profile? Who are our WSU students, and what is their academic profile? How do our students take composition courses at WSU? How do our students take composition courses at WSU? What are the goals of the Composition Program at WSU? What are the goals of the Composition Program at WSU?

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation3 Who are WSU students? Demographics (2006, 2007, or 2008 information) Demographics (2006, 2007, or 2008 information) WSU enrollment – 33,000 WSU enrollment – 33,000 Undergraduates – 21,000 Undergraduates – 21,000 tri-country residents – 87% tri-country residents – 87% income – 50% under 50K (family) income – 50% under 50K (family) financial aid – 70% financial aid – 70% work (FT or PT) – 85% work (FT or PT) – 85% gender -- ♂ 42%, ♀ 58% gender -- ♂ 42%, ♀ 58% age (average) – 25 (national – 22) age (average) – 25 (national – 22) 1 st generation college students – “many” 1 st generation college students – “many”

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation4 Who are WSU students? Undergraduates – 21,000 Undergraduates – 21,000 FT/PT – FT 59%, PT 41% FT/PT – FT 59%, PT 41% FT age = 22, PT age = 29 FT age = 22, PT age = 29 race/ethnicity race/ethnicity Caucasian-American48% Caucasian-American48% African-American31% African-American31% Asian-American 6% Asian-American 6% Hispanic-American 3% Hispanic-American 3% Other/Unknown12% Other/Unknown12% 6-year graduation rate – 32-33% 6-year graduation rate – 32-33%

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation5 Who are WSU students? WSU Freshman WSU Freshman FT/PT – FT – 85%, PT – 15% FT/PT – FT – 85%, PT – 15% age (average) – age (average) – gender – ♂ 40%, ♀ 60% gender – ♂ 40%, ♀ 60% ethnicity ethnicity Caucasian-American42% Caucasian-American42% African-American37% African-American37% Asian-American 8% Asian-American 8% Hispanic-American 3% Hispanic-American 3% Other/Unknown 10% Other/Unknown 10% 1 st generation college students – “many” 1 st generation college students – “many” graduation rates -- ??? graduation rates -- ???

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation6 Academic Profile ACT scores (2006 information) ACT scores (2006 information) WSU ACT composite – 19.9 WSU ACT composite – 19.9 national composite – 21.7 national composite – 21.7 WSU ACT English – 19.2 WSU ACT English – 19.2 national English – 21.3 national English – 21.3 WSU ACT Reading – 20.4 WSU ACT Reading – 20.4 national Reading – 22.5 national Reading – 22.5 WSU admission standards WSU admission standards ACT composite 21 &/or 2.75 HS GPA ACT composite 21 &/or 2.75 HS GPA

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation7 Academic Profile Composition classes (WSU and ACT info) Composition classes (WSU and ACT info) considerable demographic diversity considerable demographic diversity considerable variation in backgrounds considerable variation in backgrounds use high school strategies use high school strategies need improvement in reading strategies need improvement in reading strategies need experience in writing process need experience in writing process multiple drafts and feedback multiple drafts and feedback need introduction to academic discourse and genres need introduction to academic discourse and genres need college-level research and technology skills need college-level research and technology skills

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation8 Academic Profile Retention Retention graduation– 32-33% overall, 10-12% AA graduation– 32-33% overall, 10-12% AA factors (selected) factors (selected) FT vs. PT FT vs. PT better-prepared (ACT scores) better-prepared (ACT scores) 1 st year to 2 nd year retention 1 st year to 2 nd year retention focus (General Education) focus (General Education) early completion of Gen Ed competency requirements (BC and IC) early completion of Gen Ed competency requirements (BC and IC) assessment assessment support (Writing Center) support (Writing Center)

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation9 WSU Composition Courses General Education Program General Education Program [Gen Ed] requirements contribute to the goal of ensuring that all students have the basic skills fundamental to success in college while simultaneously achieving the intellectual breadth necessary to place specialized and professional curricula in proper perspective. [Gen Ed] requirements contribute to the goal of ensuring that all students have the basic skills fundamental to success in college while simultaneously achieving the intellectual breadth necessary to place specialized and professional curricula in proper perspective.

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation10 WSU Composition Courses General Education Program General Education Program Competencies Competencies written communication, oral communication, mathematics, computer literacy, analytical/critical thinking written communication, oral communication, mathematics, computer literacy, analytical/critical thinking Groups and Areas Groups and Areas natural sciences, humanities, society and institutions; cultural diversity, ethics/society, science/technology/society natural sciences, humanities, society and institutions; cultural diversity, ethics/society, science/technology/society

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation11 WSU Composition Courses Gen Ed Composition Sequence Gen Ed Composition Sequence BC/Basic Composition -- 4 credits BC/Basic Composition -- 4 credits ENG 1020* ENG 1020* *ENG 1010 remedial to 1020 *ENG 1010 remedial to 1020 IC/Intermediate Composition -- 3 credits IC/Intermediate Composition -- 3 credits ENG 3010, 3050, Lit & Writing ENG 3010, 3050, Lit & Writing WI/Writing Intensive – 3 credits WI/Writing Intensive – 3 credits course in major course in major Total – 10 credit hours Total – 10 credit hours

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation12 WSU Composition Courses Placement* Placement* *based on a study correlating ACT scores to passing grades in 1020) *based on a study correlating ACT scores to passing grades in 1020) ENG 1010 – ACT English < 20 ENG 1010 – ACT English < 20 F, 2007 placement – 46% F, 2007 placement – 46% ENG 1020 – ACT English > 21 ENG 1020 – ACT English > 21 F, 2007 placement – 54% F, 2007 placement – 54% or EQE (English Qualifying Exam) or EQE (English Qualifying Exam) mandated placement mandated placement English Permit-to-Register system English Permit-to-Register system

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation13 WSU Composition Courses Gen Ed WC pre-requisites and graduation requirements Gen Ed WC pre-requisites and graduation requirements effective Fall, 2008 (system in progress) effective Fall, 2008 (system in progress) BC (ENG 1020) -- C or better to fulfill graduation requirement BC (ENG 1020) -- C or better to fulfill graduation requirement BC  IC (ENG 3010, …) -- C or better pre- requisite in BC (ENG 1020) BC  IC (ENG 3010, …) -- C or better pre- requisite in BC (ENG 1020) IC (ENG 3010, …) -- C or better to fulfill graduation requirement IC (ENG 3010, …) -- C or better to fulfill graduation requirement IC  WI (Writing Intensive in the major) -- C or better pre-requisite in IC (ENG 3010, …) IC  WI (Writing Intensive in the major) -- C or better pre-requisite in IC (ENG 3010, …)

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation14 WSU Composition Courses English Department English Department F, % of undergraduate sections are Composition (110/154) F, % of undergraduate sections are Composition (110/154) ENG /16% ENG /16% ENG /27% ENG /27% ENG /16% ENG /16% Lit & Writing12/8% Lit & Writing12/8% ENG /1% ENG /1% ENG /1% ENG /1%

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation15 Goals of Composition Program teach General Education courses teach General Education courses writing across the university writing across the university assessment assessment teach w/in a common curriculum teach w/in a common curriculum New Common Syllabus project New Common Syllabus project focus on academic discourse focus on academic discourse technologies of writing technologies of writing teach w/ consistent grading teach w/ consistent grading January grading workshops January grading workshops teach w/ quality support teach w/ quality support Wiki (Composition Faculty Handbook) Wiki (Composition Faculty Handbook) Writing Center Writing Center

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation16 Goals of Composition Program Gen Ed courses – learning objectives model Gen Ed courses – learning objectives model based on WPA Outcomes Statement based on WPA Outcomes Statement focus on reading, research, writing, and technology focus on reading, research, writing, and technology BC (ENG 1020) – writing in college courses BC (ENG 1020) – writing in college courses IC (ENG 3010) – writing across the university IC (ENG 3010) – writing across the university assessment assessment

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation17 Goals of Composition Program Common curriculum Common curriculum New Common Syllabus project New Common Syllabus project learning objectives learning objectives textbooks textbooks writing requirements (word counts) writing requirements (word counts) genre assignments genre assignments ENG 1010 – summary, response, analysis, argument ENG 1010 – summary, response, analysis, argument ENG 1020 – analysis, argument ENG 1020 – analysis, argument research-based assignments research-based assignments technologies technologies Wiki – sample syllabi, assignments, graded papers Wiki – sample syllabi, assignments, graded papers

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation18 Goals of Composition Program Consistent grading Consistent grading Grading Workshops  assessment planning Grading Workshops  assessment planning grade distributions (historical) grade distributions (historical) ENG 1010 – 75% S/25% U or other ENG 1010 – 75% S/25% U or other ENG 1020 – 75% C or better/25% other ENG 1020 – 75% C or better/25% other grade distributions (against grade inflation) grade distributions (against grade inflation) ENG 1020 – C or better requirement ENG 1020 – C or better requirement A15-20% A15-20% B35-40% B35-40% C15-25% C15-25% <C or better 25% <C or better 25% “Students will rise to the occasion.” “Students will rise to the occasion.” wiki – sample graded papers wiki – sample graded papers

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation19 Goals of Composition Program Quality support Quality support support for teaching support for teaching Orientations, workshops, wiki Orientations, workshops, wiki WSU OTL (Office for Teaching and Learning) – individual and workshops WSU OTL (Office for Teaching and Learning) – individual and workshops support for students support for students Writing Center Writing Center in-person and on-line tutoring in-person and on-line tutoring GTA and professional tutors GTA and professional tutors WSU Academic Success Center – individual and workshops WSU Academic Success Center – individual and workshops suggestions? suggestions?

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation20 Goals of Composition Program WSU Composition Faculty Handbook WSU Composition Faculty Handbook wiki address: wiki address: iki.com iki.com iki.com iki.com wiki password: wiki password: teaching teaching Please contribute feedback and materials to the wiki: Please contribute feedback and materials to the wiki:

August 26, 2008Composition Program Orientation21 Administrative Matters Syllabus checklist/English Syllabus checklist/English New Common Syllabus New Common Syllabus mandatory for ENG 1010 and ENG 1020 mandatory for ENG 1010 and ENG 1020 in prep for ENG 3010, 3050, Lit & Writing in prep for ENG 3010, 3050, Lit & Writing Sample syllabi and assignments -- wiki Sample syllabi and assignments -- wiki *Syllabus review -- department and graduate program* *Syllabus review -- department and graduate program* Plagiarism Policy/English Plagiarism Policy/English SafeAssignment on Blackboard SafeAssignment on Blackboard *all cases discussed w/ Asst/Assoc Chair* *all cases discussed w/ Asst/Assoc Chair* Grade challenges/English Grade challenges/English Contact info ; office hours – drop in (most afternoons) and appointments Contact info ; office hours – drop in (most afternoons) and