General Education and Writing

Resources for Faculty

1. Philosophy and Goals of General Education from WIU Undergraduate Catalog
2. Link to English Department Writing Handbook
3. Model Syllabus Language (links here to 5 to 10 different syllabi)
4. Model Writing Assignments (links here to some come common writing assignments)
5. Teaching Large Classes below are a number of guides and websites that discuss the challenges and opportunities concomitant with teaching large classes.
   1. Classroom Practices and Activities
      (http://tinyurl.com/2zdrsb) This brief guide was created for English 180 instructurs
      but contains ideas for teaching writing that may be of use across disciplines.
   2. Teaching Writing In Large Classes
      (http://tinyurl.com/yrl7du) This site, developed by the University of Minnesota,
      contains links to best practices and assignments for large classes.
   3. Teaching Large Classes
      (http://tinyurl.com/2fefto) This site, belonging to the University of Wisconsin
      Whitewater, contains a useful bibliography.
   4. Teaching Large Classes
      (http://tinyurl.com/23xq3y) is a site sponsored by the University of Queensland
      and contains a wide variety of resources.
   5. Teaching Large Classes
      (http://tinyurl.com/ypoffj) is a resource rich site from Penn State.
   6. Teaching Large Classes
      (http://tinyurl.com/26hjh6) is a site provided by the University of Arkansas that
      listis links to other sites about, yes, teaching large classes.
6. Writing and General Education: below are websites discussing writing and general education
   1. Writing as Situated Thinking in General Education (http://tinyurl.com/yoeoco) by Yvonne Merrill at Colorado State
   2. Writing and General Education a Commentary by Bob Tilton (http://tinyurl.com/278ott) This 2001 esssay
      by University of Connecticut professor interestingly mirrors similar discussions at WIU.
7. ERIC database searches: Below are a number of searches of the ERIC database keyed to General Education.
   These searches will run automatically for WIU students and faculty and will automatically update themselves.
   1. Writng Assignments
      1. (http://tinyurl.com/295kq5) is a search gathering peer reviewed articles regarding
         writing assignments in higher education.
      2. (http://tinyurl.com/22calk) is the same search as before but limited to full
         text articles.
         
   2. Assessment
      1. (http://tinyurl.com/295d8u) locates full text articles on General Education assessment
         at the program level.
   3. Teaching Methods
      1. (http://tinyurl.com/ys5tw4) locates articles on General Education pedagogy
         from a variety of disciplines.
   4. Student Attitudes
      1. (http://tinyurl.com/yudp8m) looks at student attitudes toward General Education.

Resources To Provide Your Students

1. Link to WIU Writing Center
2. Link to Librarians (with e-mail addresses, areas of subject expertise and areas of application based expertise (who knows how to use PhotoShop, SPSS, etc.) The library can make a special Gen Ed Resource Page.
3. Link to Computer Labs hours of operation and available software
4. Whatever Else We can Think Of....