This approach to classify different types of writing assignments was provided by Dr. Alyson Ma from the Economics department, and is used in the ECON 497 Senior Seminar course. Through a series of formal and informal assignments, her students have the opportunity to build and practice skills that will assist them in their final research projects.

The handout explains how “the course is structured as a learning process with guidance and feedback from me as well as your peers. The ‘Developmental Assignments’ are opportunities to receive feedback as you reach the various milestones in the research process. […] The ‘Contributory Assignments’ are your opportunities to assist your peers (and yourself) by providing feedback on their presentations. […] The scaffolding of the ‘Developmental’ and ‘Contributory’ assignments will lead to the ‘Mastery Assignments.”