Incorporation of ‘Writing in the Curriculum' Into Agronomy Courses.

In 2009 Auburn University mandated that ‘Writing in the Curriculum’ would be implemented into all majors at the University.  The plan was to increase student writing efforts through the use of assigned writing in courses in their major.  Selected courses in each major were required to: 1) be taken by all majors, 2) cover all course levels, 3) have gradable writing assignments included in their syllabi, and 4)include writing assignments of different types targeted to different audiences.  An overall writing plan which included defined assessment was submitted to a University Writing Committee in the Spring of 2010, and Writing in the Curriculum was initiated the following Fall.  Selected courses in the Agronomy & Soils major were:  1) Soil Morphology, 2)  Introductory Turfgrass Management, 3) Forage Production and Utilization, 4)  Weed Science, and 5)  Senior Seminar.  While other courses did include sizable writing assignments, these five courses are taken by a majority of the majors, and they are the courses included in assessments.  Assessment is conducted by collecting writing examples from Freshman-level coursework through Senior-level work, creating a portfolio of student writing.  Specific writing exercises vary with the course, but include replies to extension-type e-mail queries, written papers or reports on field trips.