The CTW initiative began as a response by Georgia State University to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ (SACS) requirement for a Quality Enhancement Plan. An effective QEP is required of all public colleges and universities in Georgia for accreditation. For information on the university's CTW initiative, CTW courses, credit transfers, and more, please see the Critical Thinking through Writing main page, http://www.gsu.edu/ctw/

Part of CTW requires that incoming students (beginning Fall 2009) must pass at least two CTW courses. These courses are designed by the department and approved by a subcommittee of the University Senate. The department identifies six courses as CTW courses: 3040 (Introduction to Literary Studies), 3050 (Introduction to Rhetoric and Advanced Composition), 4300 (Senior Seminar in Literary Studies), 4320 (Senior Seminar in Rhetoric and Composition), 4330 (Senior Seminar in Secondary Education), 4310a (Senior Seminar in Creative Writing: Poetry), 4310b (Senior Seminar in Creative Writing: Fiction). Students take one CTW course at the beginning of their program and the other as seniors in their program. The introductory courses establish and develop the critical thinking skills used in English, and the senior-level courses allow students to demonstrate their mastery of those skills.

The central idea behind CTW is that students enhance their critical thinking skills through writing about concepts and issues specific to their disciplines. The English department views CTW as an opportunity to raise awareness of how we already teach writing and critical thinking skills; we want to expand our existing skills by exploring new ways to enhance students’ writing and critical thinking.

This site includes information for students majoring in English and English department faculty.