GENERAL EDUCATION WRITING & MATH REQ APPLICATION SYLLABI REQ & ASSESMENT COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP STUDENT PETITION

Student Petition for Writing Requirement Credit

University Writing Requirement

To graduate, students must complete courses that involve substantial writing for a total of 24,000 words. Courses that count toward this requirement will be in one of three categories:

E2: Coursework with at least 2,000 words;
E4: Coursework with at least 4,000 words;
E6: Coursework with at least 6,000 words.

1. The student must write a minimum of 2,000 - 6,000 words in the course (one double spaced, typed page in 12 point type is 300 words). The level of certification depends on the number of words.
2. This written work must be evaluated on the effectiveness, organization, clarity, and coherence of the writing as well as the grammar, punctuation and usage of standard written English.
3. The student must be provided feedback on the written work submitted.
4. Teamwork or writing done by a group or team, class notes, in-class essay examinations, and term papers submitted too late in the semester to be returned to students in class cannot be used to meet the minimum word requirement. Drafts cannot be counted separately from final drafts as part of the total number of words completed during the course.

Student Petition Process:

This is a petition process for exceptional situations. Instructors petitioning a course multiple times will be asked to apply for permanent course approval through the application process. Students asking instructors to petition on their behalf multiple times will be asked to register for classes that are coded to award credit for General Education/Writing and Math Requirement.

Please review the criteria for Writing Requirement. All student petitions for Writing Requirement (Gordon Rule) must be written by the instructor on department stationery and include the following:

1. Student name and UFID number
2. Course title, course prefix, course number, and section number
3. Semester course was taught
4. Number of words written by the student (2,000, 4,000, 6,000)
5. The form and number of written assignments, and the amount of instruction in writing offered.
6. Describe feedback furnished to student (include who will provide the feedback and grading, whether the assignment will be returned to the student and whether comments on form and substance will be included)
7. Syllabus

Please submit the petition to Leslee Stark, 109 Bryan Hall, P.O. Box 117150. The Committee will rule on the petition generally within a week.

Please contact Leslee Stark if you have any questions.