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Written & Oral Communication

Written and Oral Communication (WOC)

Express ideas to professional peers with purpose and clarity.

WOC Syllabus Statement

This course meets the Core Curriculum Written and Oral Communication Essential Learning Outcome; it provides students the opportunity to practice their ability to develop and express ideas in either written or oral form.  Students mount arguments, marshal evidence, and deploy rhetorical devices, drawing on genres and styles appropriate to the discipline.

Expectations for Student Learning

Courses approved for the Written and Oral Communication ELO ask students to engage in activities or complete assignments that build competence in this area. They require students to demonstrate knowledge of and/or skill in at least four of the following areas:

  • Recognizing the purpose, context and audience for writing.
  • Demonstrating clarity in writing using style that is well-suited to the context of the discipline and assignment, including appropriate voice, tone, and levels of formality.
  • Selecting compelling and appropriate content.
  • Organizing and advancing a written argument and coherently supporting that argument with evidence.
  • Citing source materials according to the appropriate disciplinary style, when necessary.
  • Delivering originally composed material in an oral presentation.

Sample Activities or Assignments

  • Prepare a review of relevant research literature that provides a cohesive argument for future research in a given area. [Criteria 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  • Develop a thesis based on an examination of primary sources, including an analysis of meaningful and significant sources. [Criteria 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  • Complete a journal throughout the duration of a math course in which you evaluate different solutions to problems and document and critique the development your problem solving abilities. This assignment would also provide evidence of problem solving skill development. [Criteria 1, 2 and 3]
  • Write an essay that (depending on the subject area) might be analytical, descriptive, creative or persuasive.
  • Develop and deliver an oral presentation for informational or persuasive purposes, applying essential communication skills noted above, and including relevant and necessary visual representations of information. [Criteria 3, 4, 5, 6]

Note: The WOC Core outcome cannot be met by College Writing I and II.

WOC Course Listing