The writing intensive (WI) sections of courses infuse more writing as well as different types of writing activities into subjects across the curriculum. Writing assignments serve not only to enhance students’ writing proficiency, but also to help students master the content and process goals of a course. WI courses aim to accomplish the following:
To transform students from passive learners to active learners
To facilitate learners’ engagement with disciplinary subject matter
To create a classroom context that encourages inquiry and exploration
To assign writing as a means of helping students achieve the instructor’s content and process goals for the course (i.e., employing a writing-to-learn strategy)
To improve students’ writing through constant practice
Each student is required to pass two WI sections in order to graduate from BCC. The WI courses offered for the current semester are listed in the Schedule of Classes.
Writing Intensive Course Graduation Requirement
All entering freshmen and transfer students are required to take two WI courses prior to graduation. Students who began taking classes at BCC as of fall 2004 need to complete two WI courses to graduate with an associate degree. WI sections are indicated with a W after the four-digit code for the course section, and are also listed separately each semester on the Registration Guide and Schedule of Classes booklet.
Every semester BCC offers course sections in different disciplines designated as writing intensive (WI). Classwork requirements for these sections include more writing assignments as well as different types of writing activities. The purpose of WI courses is to encourage critical thinking and enhance students’ writing proficiency.
