Video: Maroon and Write Program Proves To Be Successful

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MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s a skill used daily and in nearly every profession. Mississippi State University is working to improve the quality of writing for students at nearly every level. The 5-year plan actively engages students in writing activities in line with their chosen major.

Writing skills are an important part of communication.

Good writing allows you to clearly and effectively get a message across to your audience.

And that is exactly what MSU’s Maroon & Write program is all about.

It’s designed to improve student writing in many ways, from journaling assignments to social media posts.

The program developed over two years of input from students, teachers and area employers.

“Writing is something you’re going to do your whole life and it may be something as informal as a tweet, or something as formal as a position paper you’re going to put in front of an employer, so having the skills to effectively write, engage that writing for the appropriate audience is something you’re going to need throughout the year,” said Maroon & Write Program Co-Director and Professor, Deborah Lee.

Those who volunteer to teach Maroon & Write courses participate in an intense development workshop called the Maroon Institute for Writing Excellence.

During the summer of training, teachers learn how to revise their syllabi and incorporate the writing assignments.

“This process is about giving faculty tools to engage their students to write in their discipline, so it’s writing across the curriculum where they encounter writing in multiple different classes and the faculty have the skills to incorporate assignments in their class,” said Lee.

Although this is the first year for Maroon & Write to be implemented in the classroom, teachers have already seen successful results from their students.

“There may be some grumbling at first, ‘ oh I have to write in this class,’ but at the end, faculty are finding on their evaluations that students like this process and students have a lot to say when you give them the option and avenue to express that,” added Lee.

Around 20 teachers have implemented Maroon & Write and organizers hope that number will continue to grow.

For more information on the program visit their website at qeq.msstate.edu