Philosophies of WAC/WID

Premises of Writing Across the Curriculum

1. Writing is a complex activity, and writing problems are numerous and varied.
2. Writing is a process as well as a product.
3. Writing is a learning activity as well as a communications activity.
4. Writing helps students learn the content of a field.
5. Writing helps students learn the communication patterns within a discourse community.
6. Students learn to write well by writing in localized contexts and by receiving responses from writers within those contexts.

Premises of Writing in the Disciplines

1. Writing is a practice.
2. Writing expectations and performances are discipline specific.
3. Much of what an accomplished writer knows about writing remains tacit.
4. Tacit knowledge is communicated through apprenticeship.