Dear all,
To help with getting the info to advisors, I’m sharing the document I made for Winter, with very small updates in the course times.
WR 199 + Composition Program Writing Lab Suggestions for Adv.docx – (Copied below the subject line as well)
Last term, advisors reached out to students who were enrolled in 121z, 122z, or 123 who had previously failed that course or another in the 100-level composition sequence; I know the turnaround for Spring is very tight, but we would love it if the same conversations/emails could go out to connect us to the students who most need support again.
I’m also attaching a flier with our current services so that advisors can stay up to date on what we’re offering students (anyone currently enrolled in a 100-level comp class).
Thank you so much for your support of the Writing Lab and Comp!
Eleanor Wakefield
Director of the Writing Lab, Senior Instructor of English
Tykeson 301 B
________________________________________
WR 199 + Composition Program Writing Lab Suggestions for Advisors
Context
The Composition Program is strongly recommending that any student retaking a required composition course (WR 121z, 122z, or 123) after earning a D, F, N, or W grade in a previous term co-enroll in the Composition Program’s WR 199 support class. As part of our efforts to increase student success in these foundational courses, we are offering three sections of WR 199.
Students who are unable to take WR 199 due to scheduling conflicts should consider visiting the Composition Program Writing Lab (3rd floor of Tykeson, appointments can be made here beginning week 3) early in the term and planning to return for writing support as needed throughout their term in WR 121z/122z/123.
A quote from a Fall 2024 student about their experience in WR 199: “This term I think that I definitely developed as a better writer. I strongly believe that because of our writing 199 class I was able to become a stronger, more confident writer. Learning about new study and writing habits really pushed me to become a stronger writer. A Lot of the study skills I have learned about I never even thought to try.”
This Winter quarter, multiple of our enrolled students told us that they enrolled specifically because they failed the same course in Fall 2024, and an advisor shared an email or had a conversation with them like the one included below. This seems to be a successful driver of students to specific support resources! We would love to continue with this as we roll into Spring term.
Course catalog description for WR 199 + Times for Spring 2025
WR 199 spst: 121z Lab is a one-credit support “lab” for students concurrently enrolled in WR 121z. This course is graded P/NP. Small groups of students meet in even weeks for writing instruction, practice, and group workshop time. Session topics may include developing essay topics, reading skills, and related writing skills and strategies. In addition to five class meetings, the 199 course includes two one-on-one tutoring appointments and short reflective assignments. Sections are led by experienced GE instructors and overseen by the Director of the Writing Lab.
Wednesdays 4:00-4:50 (even weeks only)
WR 199 spst: 122z/123 Lab is a one-credit tutorial that will support students who are concurrently enrolled in WR 122z or 123. This course is graded P/NP. Small groups of students meet in even weeks for writing instruction, practice, and group workshop time. Session topics may include developing essay topics, reading skills, and related writing skills and strategies; in this course, these group workshop sessions build on material learned and practiced in the 121z Lab, so this course is suitable for students who previously took another Lab section (but having taken a previous Lab course is not necessary). In addition to five class meetings, the 199 course includes two one-on-one tutoring appointments and short reflective assignments. Sections are led by experienced GE instructors and overseen by the Director of the Writing Lab.
Thursdays – 3:00-3:50 (even weeks only)
More general description
The WR 199 classes meet in alternate weeks, where the group of students, GE Writing Support Specialists (tutors), and the WL Director (Dr. Wakefield) will focus on specific parts of the writing process with a goal of helping students with current assignments and helping them work on and improve their processes and transferable skills to use in future courses. Students from different class sections share ideas and lessons they received in WR 121z/122z/123, so the group learns from each other and creates a supportive community.
Each in-person class meeting will consist of conversation about the week’s topic, instruction about the skill in general, some kind of partner or group activity, and peer review or time to check in with a tutor about a current or upcoming WR assignment.
Between the class meetings, students will do reflective assignments about the class meetings and about self-selected lessons they will complete in the “off” weeks (odd weeks, when there is no class meeting), which will help students put a new skill or idea about writing or learning into practice, for example by having students look at some different strategies for taking notes while reading and then applying one during that week of their WR 121z/122z/123 class.
The final requirement for the class is at least two one-on-one tutoring appointments in the Writing Lab, at a time of the student’s choosing.
This combination of supportive requirements should help students maintain structure throughout the term while also having a lot of time to focus on their own learning, with the support and community of the WR 199 class group and the WL staff.
Suggested recommendation to students
Dear Student,
You are registered to take WR 121z, 122z, or 123 this Spring term after having previously attempted the same or an equivalent class. To support your success in your composition requirement, the Composition program offers a one-credit, Pass/No Pass course alongside these 100-level course requirements called WR 199. It is highly recommended that you take WR 199 along with the WR class you’re already enrolled in! Students who take WR 199 or seek out tutoring help (through the Writing Lab and/or other services) report increased confidence in their assignments and in themselves as writers.
Register for WR 199 by visiting DuckWeb, looking at the WR course options, and selecting your relevant section of WR 199.
If you’re unable to take WR 199 this term, the Composition program has a few other ideas for setting yourself up for success this coming term!
1. Visit your instructor’s office hours early in the term. This helps you get to know them, see their office, and introduce yourself.
2. Visit the Composition Program Writing Lab (or another tutor you have access to, such as an athletic tutor, a CMAE tutor, or similar) for help sometime during the writing process for your first major assignment. This helps you familiarize yourself with available resources, start to build a relationship with a tutor, and start off on the right foot. You can make an appointment for one-on-one tutoring through the Writing Lab starting in Week 3 by clicking here.
3. Stop by the Writing Lab’s drop-in event, Thursday of Week 3 from 1-3. This is a drop-in tutoring event offered to help students get to know our tutors, our space, and our services. Stop by just to say hello or figure out where you’ll come for an appointment, or come by with a question about an assignment you have in your WR class.
4. Identify and use other campus resources, from the Accessible Education Center if you need an accommodation to show your learning in classes to the Student Health Center to the Student Recreation Center. Many campus resources exist to help you feel your best!
For more advice on setting yourself up for academic success, talk to your advisor or visit the Student Success Resources page.
We look forward to having you in a WR class this Spring term!
Sincerely,
Eleanor Wakefield, Director of the Composition Program Writing Lab; the Writing Lab Staff – K, Julia, Lou, Megan, and Sam; and the Composition Program
[Feel welcome to revise this email including the student success link to whatever makes the most sense for you. I drafted it when I thought I might be sending the emails myself.]
Student feedback from Fall 2024
This feedback was sent to us from a faculty member, whose student wrote it in their end-of-term reflection: “The writing lab was also helpful for bouncing ideas around with an outside source. This is my first term at UO, and having the extra incentive to use more of the resources offered by the College has helped me break out of my shell a bit. I was used to being almost fully remote at my last institution, so getting that extra help was a great kickstart for being more connected and branching out.”
“Overall though, I feel a lot more confident given that I was able to talk out and create a future and timely mannered plan for this writing assignment.” -NB
“I was able to get helpful pointers on how to make my writing assignment even stronger. With those pointers I think it really changed my paper for the better. The writing instructor suggested maybe adding in more examples that maybe I have been through or have seen. Ithink that by adding these minor details it really shaped and added to my assignment. I think that overall, not just in this last meeting this class has taught me how to become a stronger writer and one major part of that is connecting to my paper.” -MM
“I truly appreciated working with the instructors—their feedback was encouraging and incredibly helpful!” -CB
“WR 199 helped me plan out what I needed to complete form my Writing 121z class. Though this class was an extra credit and required a tiny bit more work, it was defiantly a blessing more than a curse. I feel as if I have grown so much as a writer. Many of the writing strategies that I developed in this class helped me grow into the writer I am today.” -NB
“I honestly really enjoyed my meeting [tutoring appointment]. I’m going to be honest at first I wasn’t so excited because I would rather just work on my own but after the session I felt relieved that someone else was able to look at my paper and say that it was good. It made me more confident to turn this assignment in especially because this was my final essay for my class.” -MM
