George Mason University’s Composition Program recently showcased the impact of its Mason Core writing curriculum at the Mason Writes symposium, where students across disciplines gathered to present their research. The event gave students a platform to share their work while competing for scholarships to further develop their projects.
Required for all degree programs, George Mason’s composition courses, ENGH 100, 101, 123, and 302, emphasize the role of strong communication and research skills. In these classes, students are challenged to research topics and issues that interest them, reinforcing the relevance of writing in academic and professional contexts.
“George Mason’s Composition Program sharpens its focus on the student’s individual writing process, especially through small assignments, that require writing for different audiences and purposes, said Courtney Adams Wooten, associate professor and associate chair of writing program administration.
The Mason Writes symposium highlighted the results of that process, bringing together students representing a range of disciplines and approaches, and creating an opportunity to take their work beyond the classroom and show how composition courses help them grow as researchers and writers.
CHSS spoke to three students, hailing from three different disciplines—biology, mathematics, and graphic design—to find out about their inspiration, what they learned, and how they used research methods from their composition classes to explore their topics.
Akwi Tanwi, biology major, ENGH 101
In her ENGH 101 class, Akwi Tanwi researched climate injustice and its disproportionate impact on Black American communities. She focused specifically on the cases found in Cancer Alley in Louisiana and discussed the intersection between environmental factors and systemic inequalities. When asked about her motivations and the impact of this project, Tanwi responded that she sought to encourage policymakers to listen to the concerns of the citizens rather than focusing on their own interests.
“I remember taking AP Environmental Science in high school, which covered intricate topics pertaining to humans and the environment," Tanwi said. "It was only in my first semester when I aimlessly discovered what environmental racism was. Realizing that this wasn’t covered in AP Environmental Science inspired me to research and inform the public on this long-standing issue that plagues Black communities.”
Brandon King, mathematics/actuarial science major, ENGH 302
Brandon King researched the impact of artificial intelligence in actuarial science in his ENGH 302 class. He commented on the common risks of using artificial intelligence such as data sharing and the importance of transparency with clientele. In his project, he struggled to find sources with his initial topic, but his professor encouraged him to widen his topic while helping him find sources for his research.
“As AI continues to grow in this world, many risks can come with it," King said. "These risks can be mitigated with proper checks.”
Rayna Roades, graphic design major, ENGH 302
Rayna Roades’ research in her ENGH 302 class focused on the impact of university makerspaces on innovation, creativity, and development. Though she did not find many direct articles pertaining to makerspaces, her professor aided her in finding a way to explore makerspaces in other universities. She demonstrated an ethnographic-like project that explores the limits of collaborative innovation.
"By improving makerspaces and creating more opportunities for student collaboration, universities will experience an unexpected increase in innovation and originality," Roades said.