College: Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department: Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications
Type: W
Status: Approved
REPORT ON RECERTIFICATION OF W COURSE: AGCJ 314
CERTIFICATION PERIOD: 9/1/21 to 9/1/25
We recommend that AGCJ 314 Agricultural Media Writing II be certified as a writing (W) course. We have reviewed a representative syllabus and have determined that the course meets or exceeds the following criteria: (1) 80% of the final grade is based on writing quality; (2) the total number of words is 6400; (3) the instructor to student ratio is 1:12; and (4) the assigned writing is appropriate to the major.
Students write in 20 lab sessions, learning different styles and genres and focusing on journalistic style, and these often lead into how to write the major assignments. In addition, they write three major assignments: a critical review of an art form, an informational or persuasive feature, and a personality profile feature. Formative feedback includes one-to-one conferences with the instructor to review major assignments; these also get peer review. These major assignments can be revised and resubmitted for partial credit. Instruction includes lecture on topics such as AP style, the writing process, and journalistic writing expectations. Examples and interactive activities are also used. The lab time is devoted to instruction.