Welcome to the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Homepage at Northern Illinois University.  Writing across the curriculum is a pedagogical movement based on the premise that students learn critical thinking best when they actively engage in the subject matter of a course through writing.  When students use writing as a means of inquiry and problem solving in various classes, they simultaneously learn the material and become better writers.  Perhaps the following statement from NIU’s First-Year Composition Program defines WAC most succinctly: 

“Writing should not be confined to first-year writing classes; we live in the world of language, and students should be encouraged to engage in expressive, academic, and professional writing and speaking in all of their classes.”

About this site:

· NIU Writing Center—Where trained consultants provide help on all kinds of writing tasks

· ESL Clinic—Where international students can get assistance with reading, writing, and conversational skills

· Writing at NIU—A new, in-progress project identifying elements of good writing in the disciplines at NIU

· NIU WAC Newsletter—Online versions of past WAC newsletters

· Workshops—Workshop outlines and resources for NIU faculty and teaching assistants

· Archives—from an earlier, extensive collection of resources at NIU

· Other WAC Sites—Links to resources and programs at institutions across the nation

Please explore these materials and feel free to use them.

Philosophies of WAC/WID | History of WAC

Original site designer: Nick Greiner. Questions? Email the WAC Coordinator: bpeters@niu.edu