WIC Courses Use Informal Writing as a Tool to Learn Course Content

In the process of writing an assignment, jotting down notes, brainstorming on a paper topic, or doing any other informal writing, have you ever:

  • Figured out the solution to a problem you were struggling with?
  • Called to mind a fact you'd forgotten?
  • Discovered a new connection between events or ideas?
  • Made sense of a concept that had confused you?
  • Come up with a new question you needed to answer?

In all of these cases, you were using writing as a thinking and learning tool. In your WIC course, you'll do a good deal of writing-to-learn, both as a way of working with your course material and in order to practice new techniques for thinking and learning in your field.

TIPS:

You can use writing to learn on your own to generate ideas for writing assignments and to enhance your learning.

  • Try reading the assignment sheet and then free writing for ten minutes to see what ideas you generate.
  • Try keeping a journal of writing ideas.
  • Try writing everything you know about your topic on a 3 x 5 index card.
  • After reading an article or chapter, write one question you have about each section. Then try to find the answer.

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