Current PhD students who are advanced in their studies and wish to be grandparented into the program should consult Robin Brown. The following suggestions for using writing in large classes are designed so that writing becomes a help to teaching the course content, rather than a hindrance. Any writing assignment you give should be taken up and evaluated. Comments can be minimal, especially if you have made the guidelines for the assignment specific and clear. Introspection Give writing assignments that allow students to think about their own learning process in the class.
Formality Consider the distinction between formal and informal pieces of writing.
Feedback Be sure that all student writing assignments have someone else's input and response. Use writing partners or groups so that students can get feedback from one another as well as from you. Consider requiring short memos or responses periodically throughout the quarter to monitor students' progress in the course and their understanding of course material. If you assign a longer, more formal paper, use informal writing assignments to help students frame a research question and report on the progress of their research. Begin following classes by addressing these questions.