Course-Embedded Research & Writing Assistants
Course embedded offerings connect peer-to-peer support for writing and information literacy directly to your students during class time. Typically, two undergraduate embedded Research & Writing Assistants (RWAs) per course offer one-on-one feedback, peer review, and research support. They are not TAs and they do not grade assignments or facilitate class sessions. Due to staffing complexities, course-embedded partnerships need to be arranged before the start of the quarter when they will occur.
About the Program
- Connect students to writing and research resources, while also enhancing student awareness about how the Studio can support their coursework.
- Support instructors in providing student feedback for writing and finding and using sources.
- Enhance connections between academic programs and the Research & Writing Studio.
The instructor teaches and facilitates the class.
- Share lesson plans and relevant assignment descriptions with the RWAs 24-48 hours before class so they know what to expect and can jump right into the class session.
- Provide guidance and opportunities for RWAs to connect with students in the class.
The RWAs consult with students during the class.
- Review the lesson plans and relevant assignments before class.
- With instructor guidance, engage with students during classes.
A typical course-embed will have two RWAs attend one class session weekly (minimum 50 minutes; maximum 90 minutes). In some cases, it may make sense to vary the scheduling or concentrate it at a particular time during the quarter. Some instructors have asked for RWAs in their courses every other week, in the middle or the end of the quarter, or even asynchronous versions with online feedback. While the typical course-embed is often the simplest to arrange, we are happy to discuss with you other options that best meet the needs of your students.
With input from a variety of instructors and RWAs, we have developed a guide for course-embedded best practices.
All RWAs take part in professional development to prepare them to support student research and writing work across disciplines. While we have found that staff who do not have a disciplinary background can be effective in providing this support, we do strive to connect at least one of the RWAs to classes they have taken, are in their area of study, or related to their area of study. RWA availability and capacity is also a factor in making course-embed arrangements.
The first classes to take part included English 101 and Journalism 207. Since that initial effort, the Research & Writing Studio has embedded in the following courses:
- Anthropology 490
- Art 381
- Art History/East Asian Studies 411
- English 302
- Environmental Science 442
- Environmental Science 465
- Fairhaven 301A
- Fairhaven 303A
- Fairhaven 305A
- Management 414
- Marine & Coastal Sciences 197A
- Political Science 434
- Political Science 499
- Psychology 305
- Spanish 401
- Speech Language & Hearing Sciences 457
- Urban & Environmental Planning 454
The program is funded in part by the operating budgets of the Hacherl Research & Writing Studio and Writing Instruction Support, in addition to a generous sustaining donation from the Hacherl Family.