Why should you use writing in your classes?
Writing  requires  thinking and promotes learning.
As students write, they manipulate information, integrate new and old concepts, analyze and evaluate.   This use of writing to deepen studentsí understanding of course material is sometimes referred to as "Writing to Learn".

Writing is an important skill which can only be developed and refined with practice.
The ability to write well is often essential to success in both college and career.  The more writing students do now, the better prepared they will be to meet future challenges.
 

Writing Across The Curriculum and Writing Intensive: What's the difference?

Writing Across the Curriculum, or WAC, is an instructional approach that refers to the use of writing as a tool for learning in any subject area.   Instructors at Leeward assign writing in fields as diverse as Accounting, History, Biology and Food Service.  The types of writing tasks students do are equally varied, ranging from major research projects, chapter summaries, and essay exams to lab reports, journals, and "one-minute papers" at the end of a class period.

Here at Leeward and throughout the University of Hawaii system, writing has become an important part of the degree program. Writing Intensive (WI) courses -- small classes which use writing as a primary tool for learning -- are degree requirements.  Leeward students in the Associate in Arts program need two WI courses to get their degree, although many choose to take more.  (The two-WI course requirement is for students entering LCC from Fall 2003 on; for those matriculating earlier, the requirement was one WI course.) B.A. and B.S. degrees at UH-Manoa require five WI courses.  WI courses are marked with a W in the course schedule (e.g., History 151W) and enroll a maximum of 20 students.  Courses receiving WI designation must meet a number of specific criteria.  Recent WI courses offered at LCC include Japanese Literature, World Regional Geography, Basic Circuit Analysis,  and Old Testament.