The Writing Program

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Associate Professor Drake
Assistant Professor Simshaw
 

The Writing Program seeks to foster a culture of writing at Scripps, emphasizing that writing is an iterative process involving brainstorming, drafting, revising, reflection, and further revision. The Program supports writing across the College in a variety of ways. Writing instruction is integrated into the interdisciplinary humanities Core curriculum, taken in the first three semesters students are at Scripps, as well as in other courses across the College. Each spring, the Mary Routt Chair of Writing brings acclaimed writers to campus to teach the writing genre of their choice. Students can take courses in the Writing and Rhetoric major, exploring a wide range of genres including the academic essay, creative nonfiction, professional writing (such as grant writing and technical rhetorics), and journalism. Courses are taught as small seminars and workshops, creating writing communities in and out of the classroom and introducing students to writing as both a profession and a creative, artistic pursuit. Students can publish their work in the student-edited newspaper, The Scripps Voice, and the student-edited literary magazine The Scripps Journal. The Journal also publishes essays selected by faculty for the Sands Award, recognizing outstanding academic writing by first-year students.

In addition to offering and supporting courses and publications, the Writing Program empowers students on their journeys as writers through the work of professional writing associates and student writing tutors. Professional writing associates not only teach courses, but also offer workshops tailored to specific assignments, genres, and groups of writers, and work one-on-one with multilingual students, senior thesis students, and students writing application essays. Importantly, the student-staffed Writing Center offers students from all disciplines the opportunity to engage in discussions about their writing with a knowledgeable peer tutor at any stage of the writing process, from a first-year student working on a first draft to a senior finishing a thesis. Through courses, collaboration, and publication, the Writing Program offers the support and the individual attention necessary for students to express their ideas thoughtfully, clearly, and eloquently.

Learning Outcomes of the Writing Program

Department Goals and/or Objectives

Goals are broad statements that describe what the program wants to accomplish

1. Students will develop their critical reading, writing, and thinking skills.
2. Students will develop their rhetorical/argumentative knowledge and ability.
3. Students will practice college-level writing and research processes.
4. Students will learn to transfer writing skills across genres and audiences.

Student Learning Outcomes

Outcomes describe specific knowledge, abilities, values, and attitudes students should demonstrate

SLO1: Students’ work critically engages with language and ideas from a variety of texts.
SLO2: Students can define a position in a critical conversation and develop original arguments in ways appropriate to the genre.
SLO3: Students will approach writing as a recursive process, using multiple drafts and relevant resources in developing their own work.
SLO4: Students control mechanics, usage, grammar, and style, implementing voice, tone, and level of formality appropriate for the audience.
SLO5: Students can select, summarize, and analyze appropriate primary and secondary sources and use them to contribute to a critical conversation.
 

Programs

• Courses in The Writing Program

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