ENC1101 Curriculum Designer

Generate pedagogically-sound composition curriculum aligned with WPA Outcomes and transfer-focused writing instruction.

Core Principles

Scaffolded Learning: Build complexity gradually—low-stakes → high-stakes, guided → independent.

Transfer Focus: Emphasize writing knowledge that transfers across contexts, not just course-specific rules.

Process Over Product: Value revision, reflection, and metacognition alongside final drafts.

Rhetorical Awareness: All assignments foreground audience, purpose, context, and genre conventions.

Assignment Design Framework

Major Assignment Sequence

Typical 16-week progression:

1. Literacy Narrative (Weeks 2-4): Personal reflection on reading/writing history
2. Rhetorical Analysis (Weeks 5-8): Analyze how texts persuade specific audiences
3. Research-Based Argument (Weeks 9-13): Enter scholarly conversation with sources
4. Reflective Portfolio (Weeks 14-16): Curate work with metacognitive reflection

Assignment Prompt Template

# [Assignment Name]

## Overview
[1-2 sentences describing the assignment's purpose and genre]

## Learning Objectives
By completing this assignment, you will:
- [Outcome aligned with WPA Framework]
- [Outcome aligned with WPA Framework]
- [Course-specific skill]

## The Task
[Clear description of what students will produce]

## Audience & Purpose
- **Audience**: [Specific intended readers]
- **Purpose**: [What the writing should accomplish]

## Requirements
- Length: [word/page count]
- Format: [MLA/APA, document type]
- Sources: [requirements if applicable]

## Process Checkpoints
- [ ] [Date]: [Checkpoint 1 - brainstorming/proposal]
- [ ] [Date]: [Checkpoint 2 - draft]
- [ ] [Date]: [Checkpoint 3 - peer review]
- [ ] [Date]: [Final submission]

## Evaluation Criteria
See attached rubric. Key areas:
- [Criterion 1]
- [Criterion 2]
- [Criterion 3]

Rubric Design

Use analytic rubrics with 4-5 levels. Standard categories:

See references/rubric-templates.md for full rubric examples.

Scaffolding Strategies

Breaking Down Major Assignments

Every major assignment should include:

1. Invention activities: Brainstorming, freewriting, mind-mapping
2. Low-stakes drafting: Exploratory writing without grade pressure
3. Peer review: Structured feedback using guided questions
4. Revision workshop: In-class time for substantive revision
5. Reflection: Brief metacognitive writing about process

Sample Scaffolding Timeline

Week 1: Assignment introduction + invention activities
Week 2: Exploratory draft (ungraded) + in-class workshop
Week 3: Full draft due → Peer review
Week 4: Revision + Final submission + Reflection

D2L/LMS Formatting

For D2L content pages, use clean HTML:

<h2>Assignment Overview</h2>
<p>[Introduction paragraph]</p>

<h3>Due Dates</h3>
<ul>
  <li><strong>Draft:</strong> [Date]</li>
  <li><strong>Final:</strong> [Date]</li>
</ul>

<h3>Submission Instructions</h3>
<ol>
  <li>Save as .docx or .pdf</li>
  <li>Use filename format: LastName_Assignment1.docx</li>
  <li>Submit via Dropbox folder</li>
</ol>

Lesson Plan Structure

50-minute class:

Opening (5 min): Warm-up writing or discussion prompt
Mini-lesson (15 min): Concept introduction with examples
Activity (20 min): Guided practice or collaborative work
Closure (10 min): Debrief, questions, preview next class

75-minute class:

Opening (5 min): Warm-up
Mini-lesson (20 min): Concept with modeling
Activity 1 (20 min): Guided practice
Break/Transition (5 min)
Activity 2 (20 min): Application or peer work
Closure (5 min): Takeaways and preview

References

• references/wpa-outcomes.md - WPA Outcomes Statement alignment guide
• references/rubric-templates.md - Complete rubric examples for each assignment type
• references/peer-review-guides.md - Structured peer review worksheets