Welcome to Writing the Disciplines!

Introduction

The American writer Flannery O’Connor once said, “I write to discover what I know.” Her words ring true since writing is necessary to communicate ideas and innovate services and products in all professions. However, prior to graduation many students do not get the opportunity to be exposed to writing other than in composition classes. While the ability to write a traditional academic paper is an important skill, effective writing instruction should also include authentic assignments that reflect disciplines and engage students and educators within their fields of interest. According to an American Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) sponsored survey of four hundred employers, writing was ranked among the skills most desired in new college graduates (Hart 2015). Furthermore, the Council of Writing Program Administrators (CWPA) and the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) analyzed data from tens of thousands of bachelor’s degree students to find that well-designed writing assign­ments, such as those found in writing in the disciplines (WID), hold the potential to increase both content learning and the writing process (Anderson, et al, 2015). Writing in the disciplines refers to writing guidance and assignments (such as lab reports, case studies, and critical reviews) tailored to the genres of a specific discipline.

The textbook Writing the Disciplines is an open educational resource (OER) that provides students, teachers, and life-long learners with free and relevant examples of writing within a variety of professions. Each chapter is dedicated to the “why” and “how” of a specific type of document found in a specific context or vocation. By incorporating writing from within disciplines, students and teachers engage in conversations about professional standards and formats that are relevant and dynamic. New chapters will be added each year to keep the content fresh and to meet readers’ needs.

The textbook contributors hope you find the textbook informative and helpful!

References

Anderson, P., Anson, C. M., Fish, T., Gonyea, R. M., Marshall, M., Menefee-Libey, W., Paine, C., Blake, L. P., & Weaver, S. (2017). How writing contributes to learning: new findings from a national study and their local application. Peer Review, 19(1), 4+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A496344489/AONE?u=nysl_oweb&sid=googleScholar&xid=5729bbc2

Hart Research Associates. 2015. Falling Short? Col­lege Learning and Career Success. Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and Universities. https://www.aacu.org/research/falling-short-college-learning-and-career-success