An Essay on New Direction and Way to improve college composition

Won, Man hee

Korean Journal of General Education 2009;3(1):105-118.
Published online June 30, 2009.

Man hee Won

대학 글쓰기 교육의 개선 방향과 방법에 관한 시론

원만희

Abstract

Writing Across the Curriculum(WAC) is a pedagogical program that seeks to enhance teaching and learning by developing student′ language, literacy, and critical thinking skills and by actively engaging student in mastering course content. WAC program is comprised of three main components: writing intensive courses (WI), faculty professional development(to teach writing), WAC staffs (to help faculties to teach writing well) To understand WAC deeply, we must look at two sides of writing. First, writing can help students to learn better. When we ask our students to write, we are encouraging them to engage actively with the subject matter in our disciplines: to see patterns, connect ideas, make meanings - in other words, to learn. The second reason for emphasizing writing is the obvious one: practising writing results in improved student writing. If writing is to become a natural and effective skill for them, they must be offered practice and instruction in a great variety of academic settings.

Key Words: cognitive process, cognitive theory of writing, thinking, composition, communication skills, mode of learning, meaning making