Use control + F to easily search for a particular subject.

 Also, consider joining the UWC discussion list by contacting us. The discussion list supports writing and speaking pedagogy and is used mostly to provide information about relevant upcoming events or interesting articles and tips.

 Looking for help teaching in the age of Generative AI? Visit the CTE page about AI and Texas A&M. Make sure to tell your students your specific policy on AI use in your class. There's also an excellent video about AI on the Undergraduate Studies YouTube channel that you can share with your students. 

If you want a one-to-one consultation, to organize a professional development event on teaching writing or public speaking, or to inquire about something not covered here, contact us. 

Designing W & C Courses

Planning the writing or speaking components of a W/C course requires beginning with learning outcomes and building up a series of writing/speaking assignments that will achieve them rather than interfere with them. In this section, you'll find information on planning W & C courses that can also be applied to any course that includes writing or public speaking. 
Assignments

• Case Studies
• Collaborative Assignments
• Creating Effective Writing Assignments: 8 Tips
• Scaffolded Assignments
• Low-Stakes Assignments

Best Practices for W & C Courses
Dealing with Plagiarism
Learning Outcomes
Managing High Enrollment
Syllabus Design

Feedback

You don't have to be the only one providing feedback, although generally students will perceive your feedback as most valuable unless you do something to change that perception. Below you'll find ideas for giving your students effective feedback, efficiently. 

Formative Feedback

• More Than Marginal: Giving Your Students Feedback That Matters

Grading & Commenting

• Grade Less: Your Students Might Learn More
• Model Rubrics & Descriptors
• Positive Spin
• Reduce Grading Time
• Rubrics Make the Grade
• Taming the Stack

Peer Review

• Effective Peer Response
• A Peer Response Demonstration

Portfolios
Self-Assessment

• Value Added: Critical Reflection and Self-Assessment

Instruction

Most students benefit from instruction that helps them (1) understand and consider their own composing process; and (2) spend more time on the invention and revision stages of composition. Further, encouraging students to work in stages and get help as they compose discourages plagiarism. This section covers methods of teaching that emphasize the composing process. How Do I Teach This Stuff? is  general overview of teaching W & C courses. 
Critical Listening
Critical Reading to Write
Critical Thinking

• Situation Critical: Good Thinking Can Come from Better Writing

Developing Content
Essay Exams
Grammar Instruction
Helping Graduate Students Develop Academic Voices
Introductions & Conclusions
Journals
Keeping Student Research on Track
Lectures
Mini Essays
Models & Examples

• Permission to Use Student Work

Paragraphs
Public Speaking Basics

• Develop Ethical Codes for Public Speaking
• Speak Up! Help for C Courses
• The Four Corners Debate: An Exercise in Public Speaking

Reading Aloud
Style

• How Does This Sound? Why Writing Style Matters
• Passive Resistance
• The Power of Be
• Preposition Overdose May Cause Wordiness
• This Is Unacceptably Verbose
• The Utilization of Nominalization Contributes to Wordiness

Workshops

Writing for English Language Learners & Graduate Students

Students who are new to learning English may struggle, especially with academic and professional communication. And even native English speakers need help when they get to graduate-level writing.
Editing for Non-Native English Speakers
Helping Graduate Students Develop Academic Voices
PDF Hoarders! Helping Graduate Students Stay Organized
Put Some English on It
Question: How Many Aggies Does It Take to Write a Dissertation?

Write Away

Write Away is a podcast in which we interviewed faculty about teaching writing.
Dr. Scott Austin Discusses Parmenides, Dialogue, and Writing 
Dr. Sarah Bednarz Discusses Her W Course, GEOG 404
Dr. Douglas Slack Discusses His W Course in Wildlife Conservation & Management
Dr. Barbara Gastel Discusses Science Writing & Principles of Good Presentations 
Dr. Claude Gibson Discusses His W Course & Assessment of Student Writing
Dr. Manda Rosser Discusses Her W Course, Professional Leadership Development
Dr. Courtney Schumacher Discusses Her W Course, Tropical Meteorology
Dr. Ted Turocy Discusses His W Course, Economics of Decision-Making

Workshop Videos

Following are edited versions of faculty workshops on teaching writing and public speaking.
Error & Improvisation, with Dr. Jon Olson
Designing Writing Assignments with Thad Bowerman and Dr. Valerie Balester
Peer Review Workshop with Dr. Stephanie Kerschbaum
Plagiarism Prevention, Part I with Dr. Candace Hastings 
Plagiarism Prevention, Part II with Dr. Valerie Balester
Supporting International Students at the Graduate Level, With Dr. Tony Silva
Talk It Up: Teaching Public Speaking with Jennifer Jones Barbour
Universal Design for Teaching with Dr. Ann Gundy