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English Composition


The skill of written communication is a highly prized and invaluable tool for your personal and professional future. The introductory composition courses we offer are not just another set of writing courses but ones which emphasize the direct relationship between clear writing and focused, coherent thinking - something essential in an undergraduate curriculum as well as in all graduate schools, professional schools, and careers. The college composition courses move beyond the mechanical formulas often taught in high school composition classes and move toward encouraging you to find your own style as you write papers of both personal and analytical natures. The emphasis upon argumentation and persuasion helps you see writing as a creative process which allows better self-expression and provides a helpful intellectual foundation for all future college courses which demand written analysis.
  1. All students entering the College are required to submit a portfolio of writing to be evaluated by the English Composition Board. On the basis of this portfolio, students will be placed either in a Writing Practicum or Introductory Composition class, or will be exempted from the Introductory Composition Requirement. Neither the student's scores on standardized tests nor transfer credit from another college determines placement into or exemption from the practicum and introductory composition courses. AP and transfer credit are applied toward graduation but not toward the writing requirement.
  2. Course Numbers for the ECB writing practica vary from term to term. ECB 100 and 101 are offered in the Fall Term and 102 and 103 are offered in the Winter Term.
  3. To meet the introductory composition requirement, LS&A students may choose a course from the list below. Students enrolled in the College Honors Program elect Great Books 191, College Honors 101 (by invitation only), or designated Honors sections of Classical Civilization 101. Residential College students elect RC Core 100. Lloyd Scholars elect Pilot 165. Inteflex students elect Inteflex 100. "Mainstream" LS&A students may choose from among American Culture 101, 170, Classical Civilization 121, English 124, 125, History 195, Institute for the Humanities 104, Linguistics 104, Slavic 151, or University Course 153.
  4. Sections of English 124 and 125 meet three hours per week. Sections are scheduled at all hours of the day and evenings. Students enrolled in courses that fulfill the Introductory Composition requirement may receive concurrent writing assistance from the ECB Writing Workshop. For information, contact the ECB in 1111-1140 Angell Hall (764-0429).
  5. A student MUST have junior standing (at least 55 credits) and have completed introductory composition before being eligible to meet the Junior-Senior Writing Requirement. Juniors should discuss with an academic advisor how best and when to meet the requirement. It is recommended, but not required, that students meet the requirement in the area of concentration or special academic interest.