University Writing

The first-year writing course introduces students generally to ways of thinking, writing, and speaking typically used in the academy, and it helps them become acquainted with the research tools and resources of the Harold B. Lee Library. Students with scores of 3, 4, or 5 on the AP English Literature or English Language exam may bypass the first-year writing course. However, it is strongly recommended that such students enroll in a first-year writing course.

First-Year Writing
Research has shown that taking a rigorous college-level writing course will significantly increase a student's ability to earn high grades on challenging writing assignments in other college courses. All students, regardless of the quality of their high school English courses, will find that a well-chosen college writing course will enhance their first year of college and improve skills acquired earlier.

Advanced Written and Oral Communication
Most of the courses now offered in advanced writing are designed for specific majors or groups of related majors. At the end of the sophomore year or beginning of the junior year, students should enroll in an advanced writing course. This timing is important because the writing taught in each course will focus on the genres, formats, and styles particular to a field of study. Students will also learn about library and other research methods and tools peculiar to their discipline, so knowledge gained in the course will help students a great deal in the final semesters of college. Therefore, students should choose a course that is related to their major and/or career plans. Students planning to graduate with University Honors should consider enrolling in Honors 300, Writing the Thesis, an advanced writing course that will help them make substantial progress in writing the honors thesis. For descriptions of the advanced writing courses, click on the links to the left.