WI Assessment Recommendations and Resources

Suggestions for Systematic Writing Intensive (WI) Assessment

Recommendations

Given the inherent variations in writing conventions and expectations across disciplines, the WAC program recommends that each program conduct a systematic assessment of its capstone Writing Intensive (WI) courses at a minimum of every four years. This evaluation should be based on established goals specifically designed to align with the expected writing proficiencies and requirements of each discipline.

Resources

Below are resources to support your department or program’s assessment of student writing. In particular, we encourage you to review the rubrics, as many departments and programs have already developed excellent models tailored to their specific learning goals.

WAC strongly recommends using the Written Communication rubric provided by the General Education Assessment Committee (GEAC), even if you plan to assess additional areas of writing, to help ensure a more consistent and streamlined institutional assessment process.

AVAILABLE RUBRICS

Other Resources

Written Communication Rubric: Assessing Context of and Purpose for Writing & Genre and Disciplinary Conventions (provided by General Education Assessment Committee [GEAC])

Clarity and Communication of Ideas(Draft): Assessing Style and Writing (provided by the English Department)

Argument & Structure: Assessing Argument and Structure (provided by the Political Science program)

Hypothesis, Synthesis & Summary: Assessing Hypothesis/Aim, Synthesis, Style & Mechanics based on APA standards (provided by the Psychology program)

Assessing Writing at York by Dr. Heather Robinson: this presentation lays out additional context for assessing writing at York College.

GEAC Written Communication 2022 Report


Revised: October 24, 2025