Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Writing Program Instructor

🎯 Role Definition

The Writing Program Instructor is responsible for developing and delivering high-quality, evidence-based writing instruction for undergraduates and/or graduates, managing course logistics and assessment, coordinating with faculty and writing centers, and contributing to continuous improvement of program curricula and student learning outcomes. The role requires strong pedagogical knowledge in composition and rhetoric, experience with learning management systems (Canvas, Blackboard), and demonstrated commitment to equity, accessibility, and inclusive classroom practices.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) in Composition, Rhetoric, or English
Adjunct or Part-time Composition Instructor
High School English Teacher or Secondary Writing Specialist

Advancement To:

Director of First-Year Writing / Writing Program Director
Assistant or Associate Professor of Composition and Rhetoric
Director of the Writing Center or Coordinator of Faculty Writing Support

Lateral Moves:

Curriculum Designer or Instructional Designer for writing and communications
Academic Program Coordinator or Student Success Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, plan, and teach multiple sections of first-year composition, advanced composition, writing-in-the-disciplines (WID), and/or discipline-specific writing courses that align with program learning outcomes and institutional standards.
Create clear, standards-aligned syllabi, weekly lesson plans, assignment prompts, and grading rubrics that articulate measurable student learning outcomes and expectations.
Provide comprehensive, formative and summative feedback on student writing through detailed comments, conferences, annotated drafts, and rubric-based assessments to support revision and development of rhetorical skill.
Assess student progress using program rubrics and standardized assessment instruments, enter accurate grade records in the LMS, and contribute assessment data to program-level evaluation reports.
Develop and revise curriculum materials that integrate research-based composition pedagogy, multimodal composition, digital writing practices, and scaffolded learning activities.
Lead in-class workshops and hands-on writing labs focused on thesis development, argumentation, research literacy, source integration, citation practices (MLA, APA, Chicago), and academic integrity.
Facilitate inclusive classroom environments that use culturally responsive teaching strategies to support diverse learners, multilingual students, and students with disabilities.
Mentor and supervise graduate teaching assistants, adjunct instructors, or peer tutors; provide pedagogical training, syllabus review, and assessment calibration to ensure consistency across sections.
Collaborate with faculty across disciplines to design and implement writing-intensive assignments and WAC/WID initiatives that embed writing into the curriculum.
Manage course logistics including assignment scheduling, plagiarism detection workflows, accommodation requests, exam and paper collection, and timely communication with students.
Use learning management systems (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle) and digital tools (Google Workspace, Turnitin, Perusall, Hypothesis) to deliver course content, collect submissions, and analyze participation and performance metrics.
Develop and implement program-level assessment projects, including longitudinal studies of student writing outcomes, pre/post-testing, and portfolio assessment frameworks.
Coordinate with the writing center to align tutoring practices with classroom pedagogy and to refer students for supplemental support and workshops.
Design and deliver professional development workshops for faculty and staff on composition pedagogy, assessment literacy, rubric use, and inclusive feedback strategies.
Create and curate multimedia course materials — lecture slides, recorded mini-lectures, assignment exemplars, and annotated sample papers — to support varied learning modalities.
Conduct one-on-one writing conferences with students to diagnose writing challenges, set revision goals, and scaffold strategies for improvement.
Stay current with best practices and scholarship in composition and rhetoric through professional development, conference attendance, and engagement with the writing studies community.
Participate in program governance, curricular committees, and accreditation activities by preparing reports, attending meetings, and contributing to policy development.
Track and report student retention, pass/fail rates, and assessment outcomes to program leadership and propose evidence-based improvements.
Integrate academic research skills into writing instruction by teaching information literacy, source evaluation, and ethical citation practices in partnership with librarians.
Design and assess alternative and multimodal assignments (e-portfolios, video essays, infographics, digital storytelling) to expand students’ rhetorical repertoires.
Implement strategies for remediation and differentiated instruction for underprepared writers, including scaffolded assignments and targeted interventions.
Maintain accurate records of office hours, student contacts, accommodation documentation, and assessment artifacts in line with departmental policies.
Engage in outreach and recruitment activities to promote writing program services, workshops, and events to students, faculty, and community partners.

Secondary Functions

Support the development and maintenance of online and hybrid writing courses, ensuring accessibility and pedagogical coherence across modalities.
Contribute to grant-writing efforts, pilot projects, and external partnerships that expand writing program resources and student opportunities.
Advise students on academic trajectories related to writing-intensive majors, graduate study, and careers requiring advanced communication skills.
Participate in community engagement initiatives and public programming that promote literacy, civic writing, and public-facing communication projects.
Assist in scheduling, training, and evaluation processes for adjuncts and temporary instructors during peak enrollment cycles.
Collaborate with institutional research and assessment offices to collect, analyze, and present data on student learning outcomes and program effectiveness.
Curate and maintain a repository of exemplar student work and instructional resources for use by instructors and tutors across the program.
Lead small-scale research or scholarship-of-teaching-and-learning (SoTL) projects on writing pedagogy and disseminate findings through workshops or publications.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Curriculum design for composition and writing-in-the-disciplines informed by current composition/rhetoric theory and standards.
Assessment design and rubric creation for writing tasks, portfolios, and program-level learning outcomes.
Proficiency with Learning Management Systems (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle) for course setup, gradebook management, and analytics.
Experience with plagiarism detection and academic integrity tools (Turnitin, iThenticate) and familiarity with institutional policies.
Competence with digital writing tools and platforms (Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Perusall, Hypothesis, e-portfolio software).
Ability to design and evaluate multimodal and digital assignments (video essays, podcasts, websites, infographics).
Data literacy for analyzing assessment data, interpreting student performance metrics, and preparing program reports.
Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and experience creating accessible course materials and alternative assessments.
Familiarity with information literacy instruction and collaboration practices with librarians.
Experience supervising and mentoring teaching assistants, adjuncts, or peer tutors, including conducting calibration meetings.

Soft Skills

Exceptional written and verbal communication skills tailored to diverse academic audiences and students at varying proficiency levels.
Strong interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to mentor, motivate, and build rapport with students and colleagues.
Culturally responsive teaching and inclusive pedagogy skills, including trauma-informed and anti-racist classroom practices.
Clear classroom management and organizational skills to handle multiple sections, deadlines, and assessment cycles.
Constructive feedback delivery with an emphasis on student growth, revision, and metacognitive development.
Collaborative problem-solving and cross-departmental coordination to integrate writing across the curriculum.
Time management and project management skills to balance instruction, assessment, meetings, and professional development.
Analytical mindset for continuous improvement of curriculum based on assessment findings and institutional priorities.
Adaptability to teach in-person, hybrid, and fully online modalities and to innovate instructional practice when needed.
Leadership and initiative to propose, implement, and document program improvements and pedagogical pilots.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Master’s degree in English, Rhetoric & Composition, Applied Linguistics, Creative Writing, Education, or a closely related field (some institutions may consider a Bachelor’s degree with substantial teaching experience).

Preferred Education:

Ph.D. in Composition and Rhetoric, English, Applied Linguistics, or MFA in Creative Writing with significant teaching experience in college-level composition and writing programs.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Rhetoric and Composition
English Literature and Language
Creative Writing
Applied Linguistics
Education (with a focus on curriculum or literacy studies)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–7 years of college-level writing instruction experience, including course development and student assessment.

Preferred:

3–5+ years teaching first-year composition and WID courses, demonstrated experience with program assessment, curriculum design, supervising GTAs or adjuncts, and documented success applying inclusive pedagogies and digital composition tools.