Propose a Writing II Course

Preparing a Proposal for a writing ii course

Departments interested in submitting a course for Writing II credit should prepare the items below to be submitted in the CMS proposal:

• Read the Guidelines and Recommendations for Writing II Courses.
• Prepare a comprehensive course syllabus that clearly delineates:
  • How writing assignments will help students learn course content and practice writing in genres specific to your discipline.
  • The different kinds of writing assignments to be completed in the course of the quarter (or year if a Cluster), their length, and opportunities that students will have to revise their written work.
  • The percentage of the final grade that is linked to the course’s writing assignments.
  • 1–2 writing-specific learning outcomes.
  • Consistent attention to writing and writing instruction.
  • All elements as shared in the Senate Policy on Course Syllabi.
  • An AI policy that aligns with campus guidance and establishes clear parameters around its use.
• Include a detailed course schedule or calendar that clearly outlines:
  • When writing instruction and active learning take place in lecture or discussion sections and how it connects to assignments.
  • A clear progression of assignments, from informal, ungraded tasks to formal, graded assignments.
  • The exact due dates for drafts, feedback periods, peer review, and final drafts.
• Include an assignment prompt & rubrics: Submit one writing assignment prompt that clearly shows how the draft, revision, and feedback will occur. Include the rubric that will be used.
• Provide a rationale: In the CMS proposal under the Executive Summary section, include a rationale/statement responding to:
  1. Information about the integration of content and writing.
  2. What makes this a Writing II course.
  3. How this is an example of writing in the disciplines.

Instructors interested in creating a Writing II course or modifying an existing course into a Writing II course should work with Writing Programs to develop their syllabus prior to submitting their proposal. Please contact:

• Tamar Christensen for Engineering proposals.
• Laurel Westrup for all other course proposals.

The Review Process:

• Once the proposal is submitted to the Course Committee stage in the CMS, the proposal is reviewed for completion. If any required information is missing, follow-up will be initiated to request the missing information. The formal review cannot take place until all information is available.
• Once the proposal is ready for review, it will be added to the Writing II agenda on CMS and the Writing II committee will review the course and provide feedback. They may ask for additional information.
• Once the review is complete, the approval decision will be shared via the CMS.
• It may be helpful to refer to the Registrar’s Office
  Schedule of Classes Production Deadlines. Please consider the varying timeframes when planning the quarter of your course offering.

Submitting a Proposal:

• Proposals and all corresponding documents should be submitted using the
  Curriculum and Course Management System (CMS). If you have any questions, please email Assistant Director Jen Hirashiki at jhirashiki@college.ucla.edu. Once your proposal is received, it will be distributed to the members of the Writing II Committee for review.
• To gain access to the BruinLearn website for CMS support, please enroll yourself using the BruinLearn CMS Support Training Portal.

Collegium of Undergraduate Teaching Fellowships (CUTF):

For more information about CUTF courses seeking Writing II designation, please review the official program requirements and guidelines.

Proposal Submission Deadlines