GEOG 324 Global Climatic Regions
College: Geosciences
Department: Geography
Type: W
Status: Approved
REPORT ON RECERTIFICATION OF W COURSE: GEOG 324
CERTIFICATION PERIOD: 1/1/2023 to 1/1/2027
We recommend that GEOG 324 Global Climatic Regions 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) 30.25% of the final grade is based on writing quality; (2) the total number of words is 4750; (3) the instructor to student ratio is 1:23; and (4) the assigned writing is appropriate to the major.
Writing assignments include a topic statement, an annotated bibliography, and a final scientific paper. For formative feedback, an outline and a rough draft of the final paper are turned in for instructor review, and it is also peer reviewed. In addition, the assignments build on each other in a way to guide students through the writing process. Students learn to conduct a double-blind peer review by working on peers’ papers. Each of the six assignments (topic statement, outline, annotated bibliography, rough draft, peer review, final paper) is discussed in detail during class, with additional in-class instruction on library research, how to read a scientific paper, how to write a scientific paper (specific focus on "IMRaD") and plagiarism. Writing instruction is provided in the form of lectures, case studies/examples, readings, and in-class discussions. Students are also provided with writing samples either from previous semesters or as created by the instructor.
CERTIFICATION PERIOD: 1/1/2023 to 1/1/2027
We recommend that GEOG 324 Global Climatic Regions 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) 30.25% of the final grade is based on writing quality; (2) the total number of words is 4750; (3) the instructor to student ratio is 1:23; and (4) the assigned writing is appropriate to the major.
Writing assignments include a topic statement, an annotated bibliography, and a final scientific paper. For formative feedback, an outline and a rough draft of the final paper are turned in for instructor review, and it is also peer reviewed. In addition, the assignments build on each other in a way to guide students through the writing process. Students learn to conduct a double-blind peer review by working on peers’ papers. Each of the six assignments (topic statement, outline, annotated bibliography, rough draft, peer review, final paper) is discussed in detail during class, with additional in-class instruction on library research, how to read a scientific paper, how to write a scientific paper (specific focus on "IMRaD") and plagiarism. Writing instruction is provided in the form of lectures, case studies/examples, readings, and in-class discussions. Students are also provided with writing samples either from previous semesters or as created by the instructor.