Writing for Pre-Credential Classes
Candidates in the Pre-Credential courses for the Credential Program typically have credential requirements to complete, in addition to prerequisite courses in order to be eligible to interview for the Credential Program. Developing effective writing practices at this level will serve you well both in admission to the Credential Program and in your future career. We expect that you will come into the program with basic writing skills, including the ability to develop a first draft, review, revise and edit papers, and use collegiate level spelling and mechanics.
Through coursework in the program, we will prepare you to write in additional genres that will be essential to your career. By the time you complete the prerequisite program, you should be able to write statements of belief and career goals, write summaries and personal reflections of professional journal articles, summarize pre-credential teaching and observation experiences, write overviews of lesson plans, and organize lesson plans.
Types of Writing
As a student in the Education Pre-Credential Program, you will find the following kinds of writing are expected:
- Reflection Papers
- Lesson Plans
- Personal belief statements/Philosophy statements
- Summaries of articles with personal critical response
- Annotated bibliographies
- Web searches/reports
- Group reports via wiki
Recommended Practices
In order to succeed at the writing tasks above, students are recommended to use the following practices, where appropriate:
- Identify and summarize key ideas
- Create comparison/contrast papers
- Work with a peer to edit and revise
- Ask questions to clarify your understanding
- Utilize the resources in the Writing Center, including the Graduate Writing Studio.
- If you have been receiving feedback on areas needing improvement, develop a list of specific areas needing improvement and carry this list from class to class to request help.
Formats
For the Pre-Credential program, when you cite readings in your coursework, use APA format. We suggest that students visit The Purdue Online Writing Lab and look at their APA resource page. Students are also strongly recommended to use peer review to help them identify errors in citations.
Ask your instructors about preferred formats for other papers. For example, some may prefer a less formal organization of multi-paragraph papers rather than a more rigid five paragraph essay.