ITW 101: Thinking and Writing

What ALL ITW students do:

Write a 15-20 page papper on a topic of their choosing (it must be related to the course theme or topic) for which they:

EXPLORE: Locate an aspect of the course theme or topic of interest and investigate the issue in depth.

WRITE: Commit to a complex and debatable thesis, hypothesis, or claim, using sources for support.

REVISE: Revisit the draft throughout the semester, using feedback from the instructor, Center for Writing tutors, and peers (most sections require between three and six substantial revisions) to create a persuasive and clear argument.

All ITW courses have a specific theme or topic: Technology and Behavior, The Great Hunger, Coming of Age in War and Peace, Changing American Identities.

Despite the great diversity of topics, all ITW students are required to:

• Demonstrate skills and ways of thinking that are essential for all students as they move through the academic curriculum.

• Write about an issue of special interest to them by focusing on a creative and complex question, investigating the question with critical analysis of readings, research and data, and using appropriate research techniques in documentation.

The course offers first-year students intensive instruction in writing, information literacy, and critical thinking. The Integrative Studies Program builds upon this foundation so that students continue to develop these skills in a sustained and deliberate way.

If you have questions about Thinking and Writing, please contact the interim Coordinator, Dr. Kirsti Sandy, at 358-2898 or at ksandy@keene.edu.