Writing Across the Curriculum is an increasingly desirable goal in higher education due to the increases in learning gains demonstrated in numerous studies. In addition, using writing in the classroom gives students the opportunity to learn science-writing conventions, improve both general and science-specific writing skills, and to gain more understanding of the impact of chemistry on social issues. The challenge for chemistry educators to integrate writing in our classrooms is that most of us have not been trained to teach or evaluate writing. In addition, we already have a heavy load of grading, so we wish to avoid overburdening ourselves with reading and editing essays. We present a successful strategy for guiding students through the process of researching, drafting, and editing a short, persuasive essay on chemistry-related topics. The breadth of the project, and the focus on peer-editing helps prevent the grading burden from becoming overwhelming. This method can be used with introductory through senior chemistry majors, and can be modified as needed to fit different class sizes.<br/>

Essay writing in the chemistry classroom to enhance learning and raise awareness of social issues affected by chemistry

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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