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April 21, 2003
UC launches new writing web site
By Scott Rappaport
A new web site has just been launched that contains information about
writing programs and instruction offered throughout the entire University
of California system.
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The project was initially organized by UCSC lecturer Elizabeth
Abrams, working in collaboration with Roz Spafford, chair of the
UCSC Writing Program.
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The site is designed for writing instructors, prospective and current
UC students, parents, high school teachers and counselors, as well as
others interested in college composition.
The purpose of the site is to provide information about writing requirements,
courses, and special programs offered by each UC campus, supply resources
on writing and writing instruction, and present the results of faculty
research in the teaching of writing.
The UC Writing Institute (UCWRITE)
has been in development for the past two years and is the result of
work completed by faculty from UCSC, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Santa Barbara,
and UC Davis.
The project was initially organized by UCSC lecturer Elizabeth Abrams,
working in collaboration with Roz Spafford, chair of the UCSC Writing
Program. In 2001, they received a Teaching, Learning and Technology
Collaborative Grant from the Office of the UC President to begin the
development of an online writing institute. The web site represents
the first phase of this project.
"Writing programs at UC have grown up independently," Spafford
said. "This site enables faculty across the system to get together
and share ideas about teaching writing. The site also provides a public
face for UC writing programs of particular interest to parents and students,"
she added.
Conceived as an institute as well as a web site, UCWRITE will additionally
serve as a place where instructors can share research, new classroom
technologies, and teaching materials, as well as discuss philosophies
of instruction and composition.
"I think the web site addresses a long-standing need of UC writing
faculty to communicate with each other and provide a repository of information
about writing programs in the system," noted UCSC lecturer Patrick
McKercher. "It’s a way for instructors to talk to each other,
literally, through online discussion groups. This is particularly important
as opportunities to meet face to face have become more rare of late."
The web site currently includes information about first-year writing
programs for UC freshmen, resources for ESL/multilingual writers, and
a section on the use of technology in teaching writing.
"More resources for upper-division courses and transfer students
are being planned," McKercher said. "The site will be useful
to all faculty members wishing to assist students in honing their writing,"
he added.
Although grant funding for the project may only be available for one
more year, McKercher said that planning committee members are investigating
ways to make the web site sustainable indefinitely.
"We’re very excited by the project and gratified by the initial
response," McKercher said. "We are especially looking for
feedback and participation from writing faculty and anyone else interested
in writing."
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