 I like to use different writing assignments to achieve different goals. So for example, in my lower division classes, the main focus is to have them synthesizing material from readings, from the textbook, from classroom discussion, from my lectures. And so the online discussion board provides them a place to start to synthesize those ideas and prepare for exams. So directly linked to the exams in the lower division classes. In the upper division classes I have them reading a lot of pretty heavy theoretical material. And this gives them a chance to start to get their ideas together writing as a way of thinking. Starting to synthesize ideas in their own minds from the readings and some of the images we've been looking at in class. And then come into class already having some ideas that they want to share with the rest of the class. So different goals for different writing assignments. Also using a variety of writing assignments allows me a way to reach different kinds of learners. So I have for example some people really thrive in putting together a research paper and are comfortable with those, some of those procedures and so that's a very comfortable kind of assignment. Working with more creative writing, for example my new assignment in writing historical novella or historical short stories gives students who have more comfort with creative writing a way to integrate that into the way they're thinking about writing. And conversely it gives the students who might be less comfortable with those kinds of assignments a chance to explore and give it another try. Maybe for example if they have less comfort with a research paper assignment they know that that's coming up and that they're going to have to do that and that might not be comfortable for them but in the same class if there's also an assignment that draws more on their creative writing skills then that balances out. What I notice in reading through the entire evaluation is that they will find comfort with one or another writing assignment and I think that that gives them confidence to try something they might be less comfortable with. All of my 400 level classes are writing proficiency so they're expecting to come in and write research papers and sometimes I have a lot of studio majors and design students in my classes along with the art history majors and they're terrified of writing a huge research paper. They haven't taken any kind of writing classes since 101 when they were freshmen or sophomores. For example having writing assignments where they're writing group papers writing different parts of one assignment warming up for the research paper or in some classes not having a huge research paper but having classes where they're writing something journalistic. They're going out and looking at an exhibition and writing about that or writing about objects that will appear in an exhibition so that's a useful kind of writing especially for people in the arts to know how to write specifically about objects for a specific context and that diffuses the tension. They're expecting a huge research paper and they come in and write small wall labels for example wall text for objects and they end up doing a lot of writing and a lot of research but the context is different and so they achieve a level of comfort they might not otherwise.