University Writing Center

College of Liberal Arts/Sociology

Expiration Date:  9/1/13

• Proposal
• Syllabus

REPORT ON PROPOSED W COURSE: SOCI/WMST 315

We recommend that SOCI/WMST 315 The Marriage Institution be certified as a writing (W) course for the next four academic years (1/09 to 1/13). We have reviewed a representative syllabus and have determined that the course meets or exceeds the following criteria:

1. Percentage of final grade based on writing quality: 45%
2. Course content appropriate to the major
3. Total number of words: 7000
4. Instructor to student ratio for one section: 1:25

Students write frequently in SOCI/WMST 315; assignments include two papers and online written student responses to class topics (which provides a dialogue with peers in writing as well). The two final exams, although not counted above in the total, also require writing. Readings related to writing (by Stephen King and Lee Cuba) are assigned, and the instructor lectures on and discusses with students the process of writing and the variety of styles of social science writing reflected in their assigned texts.  The instructor provides written feedback. In addition, she offers an online space for students to upload their work for peer review and revision in order to provide them with practice on the actual collaborative and peer review process used in academic/research writing.