Writing Across the Chemistry Curriculum: An Instructor's Handbook

This book discusses issues surrounding a teacher implemented a writing-across-the-curriculum program—designed to improve students' rhetorical and writing skills—in physical science, particularly chemistry.It contains practical material such as suggested assignments and strategies that can be put into practice immediately to use writing effectively. A comprehensive reference tool, the advice offered in this book applies to courses throughout the entire chemistry curriculum, including graduate education. Other coverage discusses designing, grading, and responding to writing assignments.For instructors who are considering, or already offering such programs, this book is a rich resource of clear, step-by-step suggestions.

Educated at Reed College and Yale University, "Jeffrey Kovac, " is a Professor of Chemistry at the University of Tenessee where he has taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in chemistry since 1976. Since 1995 he has also been Director of the Tennessee Governor's School for the Sciences, a four-week summer residential program for high school students. His interdisciplinary scholarly interests include statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, history and philosophy of science, especially scientific ethics, and chemical education. As a scientist and a writer, he has long believed that writing is both and effective learning tool and an essential professional skill and has used it in his courses whenever possible.

"Donna W. Sherwood" is Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of English at Knoxville College and teaches women's studies at the University of Tennessee. Donna also directs the writing program in the annual Tennessee Governor's School for the Sciences and assists civil environmental engineering students in producing professional papers. ""Writing Across the Chemistry Curriculum"" is the final product of her work with Professor Kovac to develop materials and present workshops for undergraduate chemistry teaches who want to teach writing in their courses.