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Degree Programs > Arts & Sciences > Writing Across the Curriculum+ (WAC+)

Writing Across the Curriculum+ (WAC+)

WAC+ Promotes Writing as a Tool for Learning and Critical Thinking at the College

WAC+ and Kapi'olani Community College's Mission: WAC+ supports Kapi'olani Community College's mission to promote students' progress, learning, and success with high quality instructional programs; to prepare students to meet rigorous baccalaureate requirements and personal enrichment goals by offering a high quality Liberal Arts program; and to prepare students to meet rigorous employment and career standards.

WAC+ supports its goals and objectives primarily through its Writing Intensive Program. The Writing Intensive program is based on the following assumptions:

1. Writing is a way of learning: students are more likely to understand and remember what they learn through writing.
2. Students do not master writing in a one-semester writing course such as English 100-their writing skills develop with instruction and practice throughout their academic careers.
3. The forms of good writing in college vary from discipline to discipline: instructors in disciplines other than English need to help students master discipline-specific forms of writing.
4. Students improve as writers not just by completing writing assignments, but even more from instruction and guidance while working on their writing assignments.

What is a Writing Intensive (WI) Course? A Writing Intensive (WI) course fulfills one of the Focus Requirements at Kapi'olani Community College and at UH-Manoa. Certain courses and sections of courses are officially designated as WI by the college. Students must successfully complete two WI courses to get an AA degree at Kapi'olani Community College and five WI courses (including two numbered 300 and above) to earn a baccalaureate degree at UH-Manoa.

Writing Intensive courses are limited to 20 students. To enroll in a WI course at Kapi'olani Community College, students must have completed ENG 100, ESL 100, or ENG 160 with a "C" or higher.

What can students expect to do in a WI course?

1. Students will use writing as a tool to help them gain a better understanding of course content.
2. Students will complete the equivalent of at least 16 typed pages of text (approximately 4,000 words). While some informal, ungraded writing may be assigned, the majority of writing will be formal and polished.
3. Writing will play a major role in determining the grade for the course: the instructor will emphasize that writing is an important tool for remembering, analyzing, and communicating knowledge in his or her discipline. (One-fourth or more of the final grade may be based on the student's ability to express himself or herself in writing about the course content; students who do not complete the assigned writing may not be allowed to pass the course.)
4. Students will get guidance and feedback during the writing process and before the final draft is due. Guidance and feedback to the student may take a variety of forms-short lectures and handouts on writing in the discipline, class discussion of writing samples, writing demonstrations using the blackboard or overhead projector, individual conferences, small group workshops, comments on outlines or rough drafts, etc.
5. At the end of the semester, the instructor may ask students for comments on the writing component.

Contact your WAC+ coordinator for more information. The current Kapi'olani Community College WAC+ coordinator is Gail Harada (ext. 9342; e-mail gharada@hawaii.edu)