Composition and connection: fostering student leadership and campus involvement in first-year writing

Purpose This article describes a module for integrating leadership concepts into first-year college writing courses that extends academic learning to promote student leadership and campus engagement. Design/methodology/approach It describes a module for composition courses where students interview student leaders and write an essay analyzing their subjects' leadership styles according to two leadership models. Findings By connecting foundational writing experiences with leadership development frameworks, students strengthen their academic research and writing abilities, as well as increase their knowledge of campus student life and confidence to take on student leadership roles. Originality/value The module takes advantage of the often-overlooked potential of first-year writing as a space for leadership education.