Teaching Writing in the Disciplines: A Course Size Guide
Designing for Class Size
Because WID courses vary widely across disciplines, course size plays an important role in shaping how writing can be taught, supported, and assessed. This guide helps faculty consider how enrollment size influences instructional choices and highlights teaching approaches commonly used at different scales. The table below highlights common tendencies among courses of different sizes. Many courses draw on practices from more than one column.
| Course Size | What Writing Often Does | Typical Writing Emphasis | Support & Feedback Tendencies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small WID (≤12) | Writing is central to learning and instruction | Sustained individual projects; revision and process; low stakes assignments to support larger projects | Sustained instructor feedback; conferences; workshop-style support |
| Medium WID (13–24) | Writing supports learning and disciplinary practice | One or two substantial projects, supported by sequenced tasks; low-stakes assignments to facilitate learning and support larger projects | Targeted instructor feedback; selective peer review; structured support |
| Large WID (25+) | Writing supports learning across the course | Low-stakes writing; no more than one carefully designed larger project | Distributed support; limited instructor feedback; class-level guidance |
Select your course size below to explore teaching guidance and strategies.
Small WID Courses (up to 12 students)
Small WID courses offer conditions that make sustained attention to student writing feasible.
Medium WID Courses (13–24 students)
Medium-sized WID courses occupy a flexible middle ground.
Large WID Courses (25+ students)
Large WID courses present distinct opportunities and constraints.
About This Guide
This guide was developed by the Writing Board to support faculty who teach Writing-in-the-Disciplines (WID) courses across a range of class sizes.
Glossary of Key Terms
This glossary defines key terms used throughout the WID course design materials.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clarifications about how to interpret and use this guide.