The First-Year Writing Syllabus Project

Thanks for checking out the FYW Syllabus Project! We started this project with two simple goals in mind:

(1) We wanted to know more about how others were teaching first-year writing across the country and across different institution types. More specifically, we wanted to collect syllabi to see the different types of projects and readings regularly assigned, as well as the FYW theories and frameworks implemented.

(2) We wanted to report our findings and share FYW resources. We hope instructors will look to this project as they design and revise their own classes; we hope writing program administrators will use this research to assess their curricula and argue for resources or change; and we hope researchers can develop a clearer understanding of how their scholarship might account for and respond to existing curricular practices.

The Surveys

Currently the project consists of two 15-minute surveys: one for FYW instructors, and one for FYW program administrators. When participating in either survey, you’ll be asked to upload a syllabus and course schedule, or you can answer a series of questions about your curriculum and program context.

You have the option to remain entirely anonymous in the surveys, or you can share some contact information if you’re comfortable with the possibility of us reaching out with further questions. Either way, you and your program will not be identified in the research.

The First-Year Composition Archive

As part of our goal to compile and share resources with the FYW community, we have partnered with the First-Year Composition Archive. Through our surveys, you will have the option of contributing your syllabus to this public resource, and we encourage you to visit the First-Year Composition Archive website to learn more.

Enrique Paz, Assistant Professor, Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Cynthia Johnson, Assistant Professor, Missouri State University
fywsyllabusproject@gmail.com