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WRAD: Writing and Reading Across the Disciplines
for faculty
In Fall 2006, we asked Skyline faculty to fill out a brief survey regarding WRAD. Even though the drawing has come and gone, we welcome you to take the survey at any time:
What is WRAD?
Writing and Reading Across the Disciplines is an approach to enhancing literacy among college students that rests on two theoretical assumptions: a) writing is a valuable learning tool that can help students understand, analyze, and apply course content in all disciplines, including the humanities, social sciences, sciences, and other fields; and b) each discipline has its own linguistic conventions that students must learn in order to write successfully in that discipline. Taken together, this means that we want to maximize the opportunities students have to practice academic reading and writing in a variety of contexts while at the same time raising their awareness of the specific requirements and conventions of different disciplines.
What are the goals of WRAD?
At the Skyline Writing and Reading Lab we are working to increase the literacy abilities of our students through the incorporation of writing and reading in various contexts and by tutoring students in the field specific writing and reading of various disciplines. We hope to eventually have tutors trained in the discourses of each discipline at Skyline College. In order to reach these goals, we need your help!
News
On November 16th, 2006, we debuted a PowerPoint presentation at the WRAD Social. Click here to view the presentation. Email us if you'd like to see this at your division meeting!
Note: You must have MS PowerPoint or PowerPoint Viewer installed to view this. The latter can be downloaded for free here.
How can I get involved? You can:
Offer a Guided Writing Assignment |
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If you think your students could use extra guidance in order to successfully complete one of your writing assignments, consider collaborating with us to set up dedicated tutoring groups led by one of the WRAD coordinators. Typically, these groups would meet outside of class time, at The Learning Center, though we can also lead in-class workshops if you would prefer.
Such groups have two distinct advantages over regular drop-in tutoring: having met with you, we the tutors will be thoroughly familiar with your expectations and able to communicate these standards to your students, and your students will benefit from the synergy of peer interaction. If you are interested in discussing this possibility, please contact us at skytlc@smccd.net. |
Increase the Presence of Writing in Your Class |
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If you want to capitalize on writing’s ability to help your students engage more meaningfully with course material but are unsure exactly how to integrate writing in your classes, please contact us at skytlc@smccd.net and set up an appointment to discuss the most efficient and useful ways to increase the presence of writing in your curriculum. |
Evaluating Materials |
| You can contribute to our growing online library of WRAD materials by either a) sharing how you have successfully integrated writing into your course and/or b) adding to our disciplinary writing guides. To examine our current selection of WRAD materials, see them below. |
Hold a Workshop |
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As a service to the Skyline community, each semester faculty offer a variety of workshops on everything from thesis statements to note-taking and timed essay writing. Help us expand our offerings by leading a workshop tailored to your discipline (for example, "Citing sources in science papers"). To set up a workshop, please contact us at skytlc@smccd.net.
If you don’t have time to offer a workshop yourself, look through our list of current workshops to see which ones are relevant to the writing your students are doing and encourage your students to attend. |
Tutor Training |
| At the Writing and Reading Lab, we are committed to ongoing professional
development for our tutoring staff and welcome teachers from all disciplines
to participate in this process. In particular, we are looking for faculty who
would be willing to lead small, informal conversations with our tutors in
order to discuss the best ways of helping students meet the reading and
writing standards for their particular discipline.
If you are interested in leading a training session, please email Rachel
Bell at bellr@smccd.net. |
Encourage Your Students To Use the WRL |
| Encourage your students to take advantage of the many resources in the Writing and Reading Lab, such as one-on-one tutoring, online tutoring, and workshops. Click here to see the services of the Writing & Reading Lab. |
See How Other Instructors in Your Discipline Have Incorporated Writing into Their Courses:
Something missing? Send us an email.
Whom do I contact? Who is coordinating WRAD?
- Rachel Bell
Coordinator of the Writing and Reading Lab and English and Reading Professor
650-738-4349
bellr@smccd.edu - Valerie Meier
WRL Instructional Aide
meierv@smccd.edu - Jason Bulger
WRL Instructional Aide
bulgerj@smccd.edu
