A Wellness-Centered Approach to First-Year Composition: Curriculum Design and Course Management Strategies for Promoting Students' Rhetorical Knowledge and Personal Self-Awareness

"I advocate for a wellness-themed first-year composition curriculum in which students read texts on relevant topics and complete writing and presentation tasks that engage with current college health conversations. Drawing from my experiences designing and piloting such a course, I aim to show how a wellness theme can bridge students' transition from high school to college by supporting their development both academically and personally. Developing such a course presents challenges, but with careful curricular planning, an instructor can open up new avenues for student learning and growth. Ultimately, a wellness theme can invite students not only to develop rhetorical knowledge but also to reflect upon their own wellness practices and therefore cultivate personal self-awareness."