College, Career, and Community Writers Program (C3WP)

The College, Career, and Community Writers Program (C3WP) is a professional development program designed to improve students' source-based argument writing by building teachers' understanding and skill in teaching argument writing. The program targets grades 4-5 and 7-10 teachers and students in rural districts. C3WP features three core components delivered cyclically: (1) intensive, sustained professional development (45 hours annually) focused on classroom enactment through strategies like demonstration lessons, co-teaching, and co-planning; (2) multi-day instructional resources (text sets with multiple perspectives) that teach discrete argument-writing skills progressively; and (3) formative assessment tools (Using Sources Tool and Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning Protocol) for analyzing student work to inform instruction. Teachers are expected to complete at least four cycles of instruction annually, with each cycle incorporating one multi-day unit, plus regular Routine Argument Writing exercises. The program is delivered by local Writing Project site leaders who train teacher leaders through 30-hour Advanced Institutes, where teacher leaders implement C3WP in their own classrooms before supporting other teachers. Local sites have flexibility to adapt the model to district needs while maintaining fidelity to the three core components.