Skip to: Main Content Search Site Map
 

Writing in the Disciplines

Writing Resources

Biological Sciences

Ambron, J. (1987). Writing to improve learning in biology. Journal of College Science Teaching, 16, 263-266. Cannon, R. E. (1990). Experiments with writing to teach microbiology. American Biology Teacher, 52, 156-58. Cooley, A. P. (1980). Writing in science–An innovation. American Biology Teacher, 42, 534-536. Flynn, E. A., McCullery, G. A. & Gratz, R. K. (1986). Writing in biology: Effects of peer critiquing and analysis of models on the quality of biology laboratory reports. In A. Young & T. Fulwiler (Eds.), Writing across the disciplines: Research into practice (pp. 160-175). Upper Montclair, NJ: Boynton/Cook. Fulwiler, T., & Jones, R. (1979). Writing in biology. College Composition and Communication, 30, 308-310. Gragson, G. & Selzer, J. (1990, January). Fictionalizing the readers of scholarly articles in biology. Written Communication, 7, 25-58. House, K. (1983). Improving student writing in biology. American Biology Teacher, 45, 267-270. Martin, K. H. (1989). Writing “microthemes” to learn human biology. In P. Connolly & T. Vilardi (Eds.), Writing to learn mathematics and science (pp. 113-121). New York: Teachers College Press. Spanier, B. (1992). Encountering the biological sciences: Ideology, language, and learning. In A. Herrington & C. Moran (Eds.), Writing, teaching, and learning in the disciplines. NY: Modern Language Association, 193-212.

Chemistry

Beall, H. (1991). In-class writing in general chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 68, 148-149. Cochran, J. C. (1982). A novel exam format for advanced courses. Journal of Chemical Education, 59, 217. Labianca, D. A., & Reeves, W. J. (1985). Writing across the curriculum: The science segment. Journal of Chemical Education, 62, 400-402. Meese, G. (1987). Focused learning in chemistry research: Suzanne’s journal. In T. Fulwiler (Ed.), The journal book (pp. 337-347). Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Powell, A. (1985). A chemist’s view of writing, reading, and thinking across the curriculum. College Composition and Communication, 36, 414-418. Rosenthal, L. C. (1987). Writing across the curriculum: Chemistry lab reports. Journal of Chemical Education, 64, 996-998. Shires, N. P. (1991). Teaching writing in college chemistry: A practical bibliography 1980- 1990. Journal of Chemical Education, 68, 494-495. Strauss, M. J., & Fulwiler, T. (1987). Interactive writing and learning chemistry. Journal of College Science Teaching, 16, 256-262. Thall, E., & Bays, G. (1989). Utilizing ungraded writing in the chemistry classroom. Journal of Chemical Education, 66, 662-663. Van Orden, N. (1987). Critical-thinking writing assignments in general chemistry. Journal of Chemical Education, 64, 506-507. Van Orden, N. (1988). Write an autobiography of an element. Journal of Chemical Education, 65, 995.

Geography

Baltensperger, B. H. (1987). Journals in economic geography. In T. Fulwiler (Ed.), The journal book pp. 387-390. Portsmouth, NH: Boynton. Estavilla, L. E. (1988). Debate: A teaching strategy for geography. Journal of Geography, 87, 2-4. Libbes, M. & Young, D. (1983). Teaching writing in geography classes. Journal of Geography, 82, 23-26. Steiner, S. F. (1993). Preparing prospective elementary teachers to teach geographical features with an integrated approach: Teacher’s notebook. Journal of Geography, 92, 231-33. Sublett, M. D. Student journals: One geographer’s perspective. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 307201).

Geology

Davis, L. E. (1991). Student abstract writing as a tool for writing across the curriculum in large introductory geology courses. Journal of Geological Education, 39, 178-80. Halsor, S. P. (1991). Enhanced student learning through writing in a physical geology class. Journal of Geological Education, 39, 181-84. MacDonald R. H. (1991). Journal assignments in an introductory geology course help student and teacher. Journal of Geological Education, 39, 187-89. Schneiderman, J. S. (1991). Learning geology by writing about the history of geology. Journal of Geological Education, 39, 185-87.

History

Beyer, B. K. (1980). Using writing to learn history. History Teacher, 13, 167-178. Brostoff, A., & Beyer, B. K. (1980). An approach to integrating writing into a history course. Journal of Basic Writing, 2, 36-52. Greene, S. (1993). The role of task in the development of academic thinking through reading and writing in a college history course. Research in the Teaching of English, 27, 46-75. Holsinger, D. (1983). Writing to learn history. In C. Thaiss (Ed.) Writing to learn: Essays and reflections on writing across the curriculum (pp. 49-55). Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt. Rebhorn, M. (1985). What does “writing across the disciplines” mean to historians? Teaching English in the Two-Year College, 12, 265-268. Steffens, H. (1991). Using informal writing in large history classes: Helping students to find interest and meaning in history. Social Studies, 82, 107-09. Steffens, H. (1989). Designing history writing assignments for student success. Social Studies, 80, 59-63. Steffens, H. (1987). Journals in the teaching of history. In T. Fulwiler (Ed.) The journal book (pp. 219-226). Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Theiman, G. Y. (1992). Using fictional journals to study under-represented groups in history. Social Education, 56, 185-86. Watson, T. (1985). Writing to learn history. In A. R. Gere (Ed.), Roots in the sawdust: Writing to learn across the disciplines (pp. 137-147). Urbana, IL: National Council of Teachers of English.

About CWE

Activities on Campus

  • Collaborates with Project for Curricular Innovation
  • Presents Workshop Series throughout the year
  • Offers individual or departmental consultations on enriching the curriculum with writing or any other writing issue
  • Is responsible for writing placement and exemption exams
  • Is responsible for helping departments develop and maintain courses that meet the Junior Composition Requirement
  • Networks with the English Department on Freshman and Junior English outcomes and issues

Current Initiatives/Accomplishments

  • Strengthening a university-wide writing center to support undergraduate and graduate student writing and to support faculty teaching
  • Helping faculty and departments create writing-enriched curricula
  • Locating and supporting the places in the curriculum where writing is already taking place
  • Helping interested faculty integrate writing-to-learn strategies into large lecture courses
  • Conducting on-going workshops
  • Working with the English Department to institute program-wide outcomes for Freshman English
  • Consulting with and supporting the General Education Program through the Committee on Writing Across the Curriculum
  • Developing a MOO (graphically-interfaced synchronous virtual space) for writing-enriched and writing-in-the-discipline faculty to teach, find resources, and interact. The MOO also provides virtual space and time for student tutoring
  • Available for assistance and support in writing-enriched course design through its interactive CD ROM. Contact the Center for Writing Excellence for more information

Search