David Weaver, professor in the department of agronomy and soils, was recently appointed as the new Ralph "Shug" Jordan Professor of Writing. This endowed professorship is a three-year term that is effective August 15 this year.
"I have always been interested in writing and I have always recognized the importance of writing in all fields," Weaver said.
Margaret Marshall, director of the Office of University Writing, said a task force was put together, which Weaver served on, with representatives from each college because there was concern that Auburn students were receiving fewer writing assignments compared to other institutions.
"We were concerned that our students were at a disadvantage," Marshall said. "The task force went out and gathered data and opinions and experts came in and suggested we expand the writing center."
Marshall said the Office of University Writing was formed in 2010 and in the fall 2011, the University Writing Committee was formed.
"The committee, with representatives from each college, reviewed all the writing plans that every major had created to put more writing into each program," Marshall said. "The criteria was they needed to implement different types of writing, more than one opportunity to practice writing, multiple audiences and not just professors and provide students the opportunity to revise work."
These changes went into effect across campus in the fall of 2011.
"I have always given my students writing assignments in class, but until I got involved with the writing committee I didn't realize that I could be doing it much better," Weaver said. "My idea was to give a writing assignment, get students to hand it in and then I'd grade it, but I have come to learn that it is a much more involved process than that."
Weaver said he has learned a lot by being involved with the University Writing Committee and by going to faculty improvement workshops.
"I have begun to use writing as much more of a teaching tool," Weaver said. "If you look at writing papers as a teaching tool and not as an exercise the student has to go through, you can make the whole process easier for everybody."
Weaver said when he became a part of this initiative, he wanted to learn how to use writing as an effective teaching tool and how to help students improve.
"We don't want to get students to their masters programs and that be the first time they have to write something like a thesis," Weaver said. "We need to catch them early and make them write in a meaningful way, using different styles and to audiences in their specific fields.
As the Ralph "Shug" Jordan Professor of Writing, Weaver said he will serve as a resource to people across campus.
"I really want to help people use writing as a teaching tool and help students get better at it," Weaver said.
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