Faculty Writing Resources
Creating a culture of writing at SMU.
Writing is a vital skill for academic success and professional growth. We believe that strong writing is essential for clear communication, critical thinking, and effective leadership.
Our comprehensive faculty resources, from developing writing assignments to facing AI challenges, are designed to help faculty shape students into strong and effective writers.
Explore the resources below to discover how SMU supports your classroom needs.
Services for Faculty
One-on-One Consultations
Meet with one of our Faculty Consultants to discuss how to effectively create and assess writing assignments, consider AI in writing assignments, schedule incremental deadlines in your course calendar, or address other areas of concern with writing instruction or student writing.
Assignment Test Drive
Bring in or email in your writing assignment for a second opinion. Your Faculty Consultant will help ensure that it encourages analytical responses and that expectations are clear to the students. We can also address AI concerns in your assignments.
In-Class Workshops
As a follow-up service to individual meetings, request that a Faculty Consultant co-lead your class sessions at critical points in the writing process.
Departmental Presentations
Request that a Faculty Consultant visit your department or group meeting to promote our services or to present on an area of concern with writing instruction or student writing. We can also provide guidance on best practices for sending students to the WC for development rather than proofreading.
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Center for Teaching Excellence
SMU’s Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) supports the pursuit of academic innovation by providing research-based instructional design services, supporting a campus culture of teaching excellence, and empowering faculty to transform their pedagogical practices.
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Common Writing Textbooks
Within student Common Curriculum requirements, two common textbooks serve as a basis for academic writing. These texts serve as models for writing while encouraging students to articulate their own ideas clearly and effectively.
Bullock et al., The Little Seagull, 5th Edition
Graff and Birkstein, They Say, I Say, 6th Edition