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 AP 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.
The only way students may be exempted from Introductory Composition is by receiving a placement of Exempted.
Students who have very little writing experience or who feel their writing skills would benefit from extra attention may place themselves into Practicum without submitting a portfolio.
LS&A students who do not submit a portfolio receive an automatic placement of Writing Practicum. Students may not enroll in introductory composition unless that is their placement based on the assessment of the writing portfolio.
2. Students with a Writing Practicum placement must elect ECB 100-105.
Students with an Introductory Composition placement may choose a course from the following:
College Honors Program students elect Great Books 191, designated Honors sections of Classical Civilization 101, or College Honors 101 (by invitation only).
Residential College students elect RC Core 100.
Lloyd Scholars elect LHSP 165.
Inteflex students elect Inteflex 100.
Other LS&A students may choose from among:
* American Culture 101 or 170
* Classical Civilization 121
* English 124 or 125
* History 170 or 195
* Institute for the Humanities 104
* Linguistics 104
* Slavic Surveys 151
* University Courses 153
* Women's Studies 210.
3. The Introductory Composition Requirement should be completed in the first year.
4. Students enrolled in courses that meet 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.
