<p>@momrath is dead-on in distinguishing creative writing courses (for which there may be a wait list or a portfolio requirement) and courses that require a lot of research and/or argumentative writing. I’m sure there are some benefits to writing essays, but if the history and social science profs aren’t grading for writing, which is so often the case, the value of history and social science writing exercises is not what one would hope it would be. Even the humanities today concern themselves very little with improving student writing. The burden of improving student writing has fallen upon English departments for the most part. If you want to improve your writing, major in English.</p>
<p>I tell my students that if they want to improve their writing they have to take every bit of writing as an opportunity to do so, including emails and text messages. It is not a skill one can turn on and off and expect to improve. It requires lots of practice and diligence. </p>
<p>Absolutely, @ucbalumnus, but my point is that there will be very little at most institutions. I don’t know how my colleagues “grade for content” when they cannot understand the content, when students write with a syntax not shared with the reader. This is a much broader problem than the OP’s, so I’ll let it drop.</p>
<p>If you are a writer and interested in getting as much practice, experience and guidance as you can, then I believe that you will find opportunities at most any college in the country. If you’re looking for creative writing specifically, then my suggestion is to look up the English departments for any schools that are of interest to you for whatever reasons – geography, size, culture, etc. – and see what courses they offer and the requirements for getting in. </p>
<p>Creative writing classes are generally going to be small at any college - they typically operate in a workshop fashion – and the classes may fill up quickly anywhere you go. </p>
<p>Most colleges will offer a supportive network for writers – publishing opportunities through school or student group sponsored journals as well as forum such as reading nights, etc. </p>
<p>Out of curiosity, i looked up what it is about Hamilton that makes it known as a good school for writing, and it seems to me that it is geared towards ensuring that ALL students take some writing-intensive courses, so that students who might shy away from writing aren’t let off the hook. Take a look at the writing requirement. It simply says that students have to pass three courses listed as writing-intensive, not that the students have to take writing classes nor that they will receive writing instruction in that class. </p>
<p>How much feedback you, as a student, get on the quality of your writing in courses that are not strictly focused on writing skills (of whatever sort) is likely to vary by the expectations of the school for its students in general and upon the individual professor. </p>
<p>If i were you, I would focus first on fit – whatever that means to you – and then look at the course offerings and extracurricular opportunities. Once you dig down, you’ll be very pleasantly surprised that an aspiring writer will find a home at a wide variety of educational institutions. </p>
<p>I think that writing skills and demonstrating understanding are inherently linked: I.e., the ability to argue, explain, compare is directly related to the ability to write clearly. My observation is that all academically rigorous colleges demand and teach good writing skills, and that this applies to all their humanities and social studies classes.</p>
<p>Williams also has a “writing intensive” distribution requirement. Here is the list of possible classes. Look at the scope of disciplines involved!
<a href=“Williams College”>Williams College;
<p>I do agree however that as you drop down the scale of academic rigor attention to good writing skills gets pretty pathetic. Try being on the other end of an e-mail communication with a typical American 20 something. E.B. White is rolling over in his grave. </p>
<p>These appear to be WAC courses, @momrath. I’m glad to see that some departments (American Studies, African American Studies, History, and especially Political Science) are heavily invested in what is probably a total of two required writing intensive courses. The burden is not entirely upon the English department to assure that students improve their argumentative writing, but still we’re talking about two courses out of, say, 40. </p>
<p>Hamilton is not unique in this respect. Another example is MIT, which requires at least two communication-intensive H/A/SS courses (CI-H or CI-HW) and two communication-intensive courses in one’s major (CI-M), for all bachelor’s degree students. Note that CI-M courses for H/A/SS majors are not the same ones as the CI-H or CI-HW courses.</p>
<p>@jkeil911, WAC is a new concept to me. I’ll have to learn more about it. </p>
<p>The 2 (or 3 in the case of Hamilton) writing intensive requirement is, I think, designed toward students in more quantitative or non-verbal fields like math, science, fine art, music. At academically rigorous schools, humanities and social studies courses are generally all writing focused, whether they are designated as writing intensive or not. This is especially drilled home during the first year. </p>
<p>My son had a double major in art history and art studio. Writing was a HUGE part of his art history grade, but insignificant in studio so it’s difficult to apply the same standard to all majors.</p>
<p>indeed, @SDonCC, 4 year colleges require 1 to 3 (sometimes 4) argumentative essay writing courses. All students get some exposure to writing at most colleges. To think this satisfactory is to have failed to read the essays students write after taking these courses. that these courses can be taken at Williams so late in their college careers is also problematic if you’re trying to make writing the center of academic experience.</p>