User:Ealee5/sandbox

Possible Draw Backs of WID

One of the possible problems of applying the curriculum may be how different schools define their English/ writing departments. Departments that narrowly focus on only “literary” reading and writing may have some difficulty adapting to a curriculum that contains nonliterary subjects (such as organic chemistry). The teachers may lack confidence in their ability to teach such subjects, as they were not the focus within their personal educational career.

Another issue that may arise is the lack of an all-encompassing education within the English department staff. Most literature professionals specialize only in English or literature, but the writing in the disciplines course demands that the teachers must have a very broad field of experience and choosing said curriculum might prove to be difficult. What constitutes a good organic chemistry report may be completely opposite of what a well written literary article constitutes and if a professor chooses an source that is not an accurate representation of the subject, then that particular segment of the course will be moot.

A problem that may affect the students is the case of information overload. Heavy information load can confuse the individual, affect his or her ability to set priorities, and make prior information harder to recall. Within a very short amount a time, students are expected to learn how to proficiently write for disciplines all across the board. Because of the very nature of the class, students may find the subject overbearing and difficult to navigate.

A students' writing ability may not actually increase as they progress through upper division writing classes. Instead, they may simply change their writing style to better fit the criteria of the reader/ teacher. Because of this, students can completely miss the point of WID classes and not learn the nuances between each discipline.

In the case of Writing Across the Disciplines, I believe that the best way to contribute and go forward with editing the section would be to add a Pros and Cons list. This way, we can provide both views and discuss in a neutral tone as to why this subject may or may not be beneficial within a certain curriculum.