As part of the Critical Writing, Reading and Research (CWRR) Program’s engagement in assessment, faculty who teach the two-course sequence have reviewed expectations and values for student writing, reading and research.  Through full-faculty participation in workshop settings, we have constructed and agreed upon student learning outcomes for the two-semester sequence. 

Student Learning Outcome Goals

By the end of CWRR I (IN 150) and CWRR II (IN 151) students will able to:

1. read and critique texts actively, deliberately and carefully;
2. write polished, informed essays for personal, public and/or specialized audiences;
3. conduct research to participate in academic inquiry; and
4. reflect on the uses of reading and writing in their public and personal lives to better understand themselves, their communities and the world.

Curriculum Map

Connections to University-Wide Learning Outcome Goals

Our new CWRR learning outcome goals help deliver the university-wide learning goals: 

1. professional success;
2. democratic citizenship in a global environment; and
3. a personal life of meaning and value.

The program’s two-course sequence contributes primarily to professional success and significantly to development of a personal life of meaning and value. Asking students to read and critique texts actively, deliberately and carefully, and to write polished, informed essays for personal, public and/or specialized audiences helps prepare them for professional success.  The additional emphasis on research in CWRR II (IN 151), specifically research conducted to participate in academic inquiry, further prepares students for professional success. Asking students to reflect on the uses of reading and writing in their public and personal lives to better understand themselves, their communities and the world prepares them for a life of personal meaning and value.  While there are opportunities for CWRR I & II to contribute to democratic citizenship in a global environment, particularly through students’ reflections on their relationship to the community and the world, it is not a main focus of the two-course sequence.

Millikin University Bulletin Course Descriptions

IN150. Critical Writing, Reading,  and Research I (3) Fall semester freshman year. Course is designed to develop students as critical writers, readers, and researchers.  Emphasis is placed on writing and reading as the path to critical thinking.  Students are asked to read and critique texts actively, deliberately, and carefully, to write polished, informed essays for personal, public, and/or specialized audiences, and to reflect on the uses of reading and writing in their public and personal lives to better understand themselves, their communities, and the world.  Library research component is introduced and integrated into the course.  Section offerings vary in approach. 

IN151. Critical Writing, Reading, and Research  II (3) Spring semester freshman year. Course is designed to position students as successful writers, readers and researchers as they move into advanced coursework.  In addition to continuing to develop reading and writing skills introduced in the first semester course, students will be asked to conduct research to participate in academic inquiry.  Each student will write a research paper that demonstrates the ability to incorporate resources and contribute to academic discourses and communities.  An extended and intensive library research component is integrated into the course.  Section offerings vary in approach. Pre-requisites: Interdisciplinary 150.