Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Writing Instructor

🎯 Role Definition

A Writing Instructor is an educator who designs, delivers, and assesses writing courses across a range of levels (developmental, first-year composition, advanced composition, professional writing). This role combines evidence-based pedagogy, curriculum design, and individualized feedback to improve students' academic and professional writing skills. The Writing Instructor fosters a student-centered classroom, integrates digital writing tools and accessibility best practices, mentors students and colleagues, and contributes to program-level assessment and continuous improvement.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Graduate Teaching Assistant / Adjunct Instructor in composition
Secondary English Teacher or Literacy Specialist
Writing Center Tutor or Coordinator

Advancement To:

Senior Lecturer / Assistant Professor of Composition
Curriculum Coordinator for Writing Programs
Writing Center Director or Composition Program Director

Lateral Moves:

Academic Advisor with a literacy focus
Instructional Designer for writing and communication courses
ESL/ELL Instructor or Multilingual Writing Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design and deliver engaging, evidence-based writing curriculum for assigned courses (first-year composition, technical/professional writing, developmental writing, or genre-specific seminars) that align with institutional learning outcomes and accreditation standards.
Create detailed syllabi, lesson plans, rubrics, and assignment sequences that scaffold students’ development in thesis formation, argumentation, research integration, revision, and editing.
Provide timely, constructive, and actionable written and verbal feedback on student drafts and final projects, emphasizing revision strategies, audience awareness, and rhetorical choices.
Assess student performance through formative and summative assessments, maintain accurate grade records, and use assessment data to inform instructional adjustments and program improvement.
Facilitate active, student-centered classroom activities—including peer review workshops, process-based conferences, mini-lessons, and collaborative projects—that develop critical thinking and collaborative writing skills.
Teach effective research and information-literacy skills (source selection, evaluation, citation practices such as MLA/APA/Chicago) and integrate library partnerships into course design.
Lead one-on-one writing conferences that diagnose skill gaps, set development goals, and provide tailored strategies for revision and improvement.
Incorporate multimodal and digital writing practices (blogs, wikis, video scripts, digital portfolios) to prepare students for contemporary communication contexts.
Develop and implement inclusive, culturally responsive pedagogy to support diverse learners, including first-generation students, multilingual writers, and students with disabilities.
Adapt course materials and assessments for online, hybrid, and face-to-face modalities using LMS platforms (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle) and accessibility standards (WCAG).
Use plagiarism detection tools (e.g., Turnitin) ethically to educate students about academic integrity and to inform revisions of assignment design and instruction.
Mentor and supervise undergraduate or graduate teaching assistants and adjunct instructors, offering pedagogical guidance, model lessons, and evaluation.
Collaborate with discipline faculty to develop writing-in-the-disciplines (WID) initiatives that integrate writing across the curriculum and reinforce program-level learning outcomes.
Participate in program assessment cycles, contribute to curriculum mapping, analyze assessment results, and recommend curricular changes to improve student writing outcomes.
Maintain office hours and hold scheduled consultations to support students’ progress outside of class, including guidance on revision plans and application of feedback.
Design and pilot new course offerings or workshops (e.g., resume writing, technical communication, grant writing) that extend the writing program’s reach and responsiveness to employer needs.
Develop and curate instructional materials, annotated exemplars, assignment prompts, and model feedback to ensure consistency and clarity across course sections.
Communicate regularly with students and families (where applicable) about expectations, progress, and resources, maintaining a professional and supportive tone.
Stay current with scholarship in composition studies, writing pedagogy, digital rhetoric, and assessment practices through professional development and conference participation.
Support institutional initiatives such as first-year experience programs, writing-across-the-curriculum efforts, and interdisciplinary partnerships to elevate writing outcomes campus-wide.
Measure and report on retention, progression, and writing proficiency metrics; propose evidence-based interventions for students at risk of falling behind.

Secondary Functions

Coordinate with the writing center to refer students for supplemental tutoring and to align workshop topics with course needs.
Contribute to the design and delivery of faculty development sessions on effective writing pedagogy and assessment practices.
Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and training of adjunct instructors to ensure pedagogical consistency.
Participate in accreditation reviews, program reviews, and documentation of student-learning outcomes.
Help develop open educational resources (OER) and low-cost course materials to reduce student expenses.
Maintain confidentiality and accurate records of student communications, accommodations, and performance.
Engage in outreach to local high schools or community organizations to promote college writing readiness and bridge programs.
Support grant-writing or fundraising activities for writing program initiatives and instructional innovations.
Serve on departmental or college committees related to curriculum, assessment, academic standards, or student success.
Pilot and evaluate educational technologies and writing tools, recommending scalable solutions to improve teaching efficiency and student learning.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Curriculum design for composition courses and scaffolding of writing assignments across a semester.
Assessment development, rubric construction, and data-driven analysis of student-learning outcomes.
Advanced editing, proofreading, and substantive feedback techniques for academic and professional writing.
Familiarity with composition theory and evidence-based pedagogical methods (process pedagogy, genre pedagogy, writing-across-the-curriculum).
Proficiency with learning management systems (Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle) and online course design best practices.
Experience with digital writing tools (Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, WordPress, blogs, multimedia authoring tools).
Knowledge of citation styles (MLA, APA, Chicago) and academic integrity protocols; competent use of plagiarism detection systems (e.g., Turnitin).
Ability to design accessible course materials compliant with ADA and WCAG requirements.
Experience leading peer-review workshops and facilitating student conferencing.
Skills in integrating library research instruction and collaborating with librarians on information literacy modules.

Soft Skills

Clear, empathic, and motivating oral and written communication tailored to diverse student populations.
Constructive feedback delivery focused on growth mindset and practical revision strategies.
Strong classroom management and facilitation skills that create respectful, inclusive environments.
Cultural competence and the ability to support multilingual and first-generation college students.
Adaptability to teach across modalities (online, hybrid, in-person) and to adjust pedagogy based on assessment data.
Time management and organizational abilities to manage grading, office hours, and curriculum development.
Collaboration and stakeholder communication when working across departments and campus programs.
Reflective practitioner mindset: openness to feedback, continuous learning, and pedagogical experimentation.
Student advocacy skills, including identifying and referring students to campus support services.
Mentoring and coaching skills for supporting teaching assistants and less-experienced instructors.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Master’s degree in English, Composition & Rhetoric, Education, Applied Linguistics, Professional Writing, or a closely related field (or equivalent teaching experience with strong evidence of pedagogical skill).

Preferred Education:

MFA in Creative Writing, PhD in Composition & Rhetoric, or EdD with a specialization in literacy, curriculum, or higher education pedagogy.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Composition and Rhetoric
English Language and Literature
Professional & Technical Writing
TESOL / Applied Linguistics
Education with a focus on literacy or instructional design

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–7 years of classroom teaching experience in postsecondary composition, developmental writing, ESL writing, or equivalent educational settings.

Preferred:

Demonstrated experience developing curriculum and assessment instruments, proven success improving student writing outcomes, and experience with online/hybrid course delivery.
Experience mentoring teaching assistants or leading faculty development workshops and contributing to program-level assessment.