Purpose of WRIT 100: Fulfilling FDR FW

Over three quarters of W&L first-year students fulfill the composition requirement (FDR FW) by taking Writing Seminar for First-Years-WRIT 100- during the first year of study. (In the past, they took one of the older courses, English 101 or English 105.) Exemption is uncommon and cannot be handled by summer course work.

LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR WRIT-100

Students of WRIT 100:

  1. Write persuasive essays that contain a clear and debatable thesis, appropriately developed claims, and logical organization of argument.
  2. Analyze supporting evidence fully and convincingly, integrating the writer's ideas with those from appropriate primary or secondary sources.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of audience appropriate documentation conventions and mastery of sentence-level skills, including precision in grammar, mechanics, and style.
  4. Reflect on and apply the stages of the writing process including pre-writing, drafting, reviewing, conferencing, editing, and revising to develop polished final products.

The most proficient students, with AP 5 scores, are exempt from the writing requirement. Successful completion of WRIT 100 satisfies this requirement.

Advice for Exempted First-Year Students

Be sure to exercise your good writing skills by taking courses that require writing (especially formal essays). Take a First-year Seminar. Writing courses can be found in most departments. Consider fulfilling your Humanities Literature (HL) distribution requirement with a 200-level literature course in English or in Literature in Translation.

Advice for Sophomores, Transfer Students, and Others who have not fulfilled the FDR FW Requirement (through coursework).

You are unlikely to be exempted from the requirement without a college writing course. When you register for a section of the Writing Seminar for First-Years (WRIT 100), you will be placed on the waitlist because you are not a first-year student. Please see the head of the English Department immediately in order to gain admission to a First-Year Writing Seminar section. You may have to wait until winter term.