The Critical Thinking through Writing initiative promotes formative assessment across the univerisity, both in the classroom and at the departmental level. As such, the CTW initiative encourages CTW faculty and CTW Ambassadors to use embedded assessment as a tool for improving student understanding and undergraduate pedagogy, rather than as a mere appraisal of what takes place in the classroom. CTW initiatives across the university have developed discipline-specific rubrics to promote student understanding of course expectations and departmental response to student abilities and needs.
Each year, CTW Ambassadors collect evidence of student work in CTW courses and submit their findings in annual departmental reports. These reports are reviewed by the Undergraduate Assessment Committee and returned to departments with recommendations. See the links under assessment for information on CTW Report Requirements, CTW Reports, and the CTW Program Review.
