English professor Asao B. Inoue discusses Fresno State’s new Self-Paced Online Tutorial for writing improvement in a video message.

The tutorial, known as SPOT, allows students to hone their writing skills and if they choose, to be better equipped to fulfill the university’s upper division writing requirement.

The Fresno State effort is the first-of-its kind and has already drawn praise from the head of a national association focused on improving university writing.

Inoue, head of the university’s Writing Across the Curriculum initiative, will work with students to develop individual goals and monitor their progress. Students will engage in various reading, reflective, feedback and drafting practices, some done with Inoue and some with fellow SPOT students. All activities are done at the student’s own pace and online. Read more.