The following are aspects of the writing classroom that I believe are important to the craft of writing and thus, learning. 

Collaboration 

Significance: Collaboration is a vital aspect to writing. The practice enables writers to benefit from others’ experience and expertise. It also helps to validate the student’s ideas. I believe that collaboration is one of the most effective ways to help the invention process of writing. It also helps the student writer begin the process of learning how to work with others effectively. 

Implementation: I plan to use collaboration in group writing projects. I also would like to use it in the peer-review process. 

Technology 

Significance: The use of technology in the classroom is very important because graduates are expected to have, at the very least, a cursory knowledge for business-world applications. However, technology is more than just a means to an end. It can be a very dynamic way of instructing writing and other disciplines. Whether we are using word processors, presentation software or hypertext, the use of technology changes the way we interact with the text and also our approach to writing assignments and exercises. 

Implementation: Students will be required to create an electronic writing portfolio. I will also require in class writing assignments where the computer will be the main tool for invention and discovery. 

Invention 

Significance: One of the most difficult, yet important aspects of the composing process is that of finding something to say. Being able to propose questions in order to analyze a concept is a very important cognitive process. Once the questions have been posed, the answers will soon follow. I hope to help students create the questions. This requires hyper and meta-analytical strategies toward invention. The analysis and reflection on our readings and writings will help the student arrive at a focus and something to say. 

Implementation: I believe stimulating the invention process can come in many different ways. Free-writing, brainstorming and journal-writing are just some of the activities I will incorporate into the writing classroom. 

Grammar Instruction 

Significance: Whether writing or speaking, it is very important that students use the English language properly. The more exact and correct grammar is in writing, the more effective that writing will ultimately be to the reader. I believe students achieve their style and tone through the effective use of grammar. Grammar instruction will be incorporated in my classroom but only in the context of the writing we are doing in class. 

Implementation: I plan to have open discussions about questions that students may have about grammar, but only in the context of what they are writing. I hope to create an atmosphere of respect and trust where we can look, anonymously, at students grammar in papers that semester. 

Interdisciplinary Writing – Audience Awareness / Genre Markers 

Significance: It is important that students understand different contexts of writing. Inherent within this realization is the concept of audience and genre awareness. Although, I probably cannot require a student to write a paper in every discipline that she will encounter, I can help her to cite and analyze what constitutes a discipline-specific paper. I also hope to help my students identify the unifying, universal aspects of writing. 

Implementation: I would like my students to choose a class they are taking that semester and write a paper on a topic that interests them. I will also provide models in reading assignments of different types of genres and disciplinary writing. 

Professionalism / Publication 

Significance: I believe that students value their writing more when they know it will be published. This concept helps them to focus on rhetoric and audience. I see writing classes as the beginning of a student’s professional career. A career, either academic or corporate will involve giving presentations and producing writing projects. 

Implementation: Students will be required to give oral presentations. Also, they will be required to publish their writing on the World Wide Web in the form of an electronic writing portfolio. Presentation style will be an important aspect of the over-all grade of an assignment. 

Writing Portfolios 

Significance: Writing portfolios allow students’ writing to be evaluated holistically. I believe this is the best way to look at writing, rather than in its separate, discrete parts. They also encourage students to explore the revision and editing processes as distinct practices. Connections can be made between different writing projects. Also, students begin to see the progress of their writing and how it can be very dynamic. 

Implementation: I will require a writing portfolio for every class I teach. I will encourage students to meet with me one-on-one in order to discuss the progress of their writing in the class.