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Gordon Rule Policy Statement

In compliance with Florida State Board of Education Administrative Rule 6A-10.030, the College will accomplish Gordon Rule writing standards through designated courses in communications, humanities and social science. These courses, which require significant writing, were incorporated into the College’s 1993 implementation of a writing-across-the-curriculum approach in its degree programs. This statement reaffirms that philosophy and clarifies the specific standards for meeting the requirements of the Gordon Rule.

College-level placement scores and/or other prerequisites (for those students required by statute to be tested and placed) are required for enrollment in all Gordon Rule writing courses. A minimum grade of ‘C’ is required in all Gordon Rule courses.

To support a culture of academic excellence, to maintain consistency and to create comparable levels of rigor in all designated courses, the following are the minimum criteria for Gordon Rule courses:

  • The standards listed below are considered by the College to be the minimum requirements for college-level writing:
  1. The writing has a clearly defined thesis or central idea.
  2. The writing includes adequate evidence to support the thesis or idea.
  3. The writing reflects the awareness of the conventions of standard written English such as grammar, punctuation, spelling and word usage.
  4. The writing uses clear and logical organization.
  5. The writing demonstrates the ability to synthesize and apply discipline content at the course-specific level.
  • All writing assignments must be the student’s original, independently produced work.
  • Designated Gordon Rule courses must require a minimum word count for writing assignments as established by each cluster. Writing assignments used to fulfill the Gordon Rule requirement are those that include evidence of analysis, comparison, interpretation, or other critical thinking applications. Assignments with such evidence are acceptable.
  • Writing assignments used to fulfill the Gordon Rule requirement are those that include evidence of analysis, comparison, interpretation, or other critical thinking applications. Assignments with such evidence are acceptable. 

Following are examples of assignments that typically include the evidence stated above:

       *  In-class and out of class writing assignments (essays/essay/type tests)

       *  Critical analyses of course readings, presentations, or discussions

       *  Research papers

       *  Creative writings appropriate to the course

       *  Reports

       *  Academic journals

       *  Case Studies

       *  Portfolios

       *  Oral history assignments

       *  Position papers

       *  Speech outlines and formal accompanying scripts for oral presentations 

Following are examples of assignments that typically do not include the evidence stated above unless the Gordon Rule criteria can be demonstrated:

       *  Résumés

       *  Note-taking (outside class)

       *  Class notes

       *  Free-writing or brainstorming

       *  Emails, blogs or bulletin board discussions

       *  Visual media reports without accompanying full-length script

       *  Writings with extensive quotations or paraphrases

       *  Personal writings unrelated to course content

       *  Homework assignments with responses copied from textbooks or reading materials 

  • Writing assignments must be incorporated into the designated course curriculum and must be computed in the course final grade.
  • In addition to the grade, faculty will provide students feedback on all Gordon Rule writing assignments.
  • At least one of the writing assignments must be edited and polished.