Academic Writing
The Academic Writing Program offers a sequence of theme-based courses that serve as the cornerstone of our general education curriculum, introducing students to academic writing, interdisciplinary study, and college-level research. In these courses, students cultivate critical reading, writing, and thinking skills, as well as develop fundamental academic research and oral presentation skills. In Writing Seminar I (WRIT 101), students develop thesis-driven arguments through a series of formal and informal writing assignments. The course emphasizes writing as process, and students engage in substantial revision, discussion, and peer review exercises as they learn to compose organized, developed, creative, and clearly-written essays. Writing Seminar II (WRIT 102) builds on the skills introduced in Writing Seminar I by asking students to practice critical analysis, comparative analysis, and academic argument. In this course, students conduct independent academic research projects and focus on evaluating, documenting, and integrating sources in support of formulating claims. Students who meet specific criteria are placed in Advanced Writing Seminar (WRIT 201), a one-semester course that combines the goals and curricular requirements of WRIT 101 and WRIT 102. After completing their required writing seminars, students are well prepared to engage in advanced critical analysis, research, oral presentation, and writing that will be expected of them across the MMC curriculum.
The Academic Writing Program also offers introductory courses, including Effective Thinking Lab (WRIT 009), Effective Thinking (WRIT 010), and Writing Lab (WRIT 011), to assist students with skills mastery. Students are placed into these courses by the Office of Academic Advisement, in conjunction with the Center for Academic Support and Tutoring and faculty in the Academic Writing Program.
Program Faculty:
Jennifer N. Brown
Michael Colvin
Diana Epelbaum
Cecilia Feilla
Julie Huntington
Magdalena Maczynska
Tahneer Oksman
Martha L. Sledge
Kenton Worcester
Learning Goals for the Writing Sequence:
After completing the Writing Sequence, students will be able to:
- Develop well-structured and thesis-driven argumentative essays
- Design an original academic research project, which will include relevant and appropriate sources and will be structured in accordance with the current standard of academic dialogue.
- Deliver an organized and effective oral presentation.
Writing Courses (WRIT)