Student Resources
Introduction to College Writing
Introduction to College Writing (English 101) teaches students to think flexibly about writing. In this class, you’ll learn how to think about audience, purpose, and rhetorical contexts. “Writing” becomes much more than avoiding grammatical mistakes (though you will, of course, be expected to write relatively error-free prose). The course will help prepare you to write in your other classes as well as in your life outside the classroom.
Most sections of this course are topic-based and all sections have a maximum of 16 students. Course work includes developing thesis statements; selecting, organizing, presenting and documenting evidence, and refining prose. You’ll confer individually with your professor about your writing. You’ll also participate in some sort of writing workshop, whether in the form of paired peer review or a full-class discussion about a draft in progress. Ideally, by taking this course you’ll become a reflective practitioner–that is, a thoughtful writer–about an ancient but continuously evolving craft.
Important Links
- Goals of Introduction to College Writing (pdf)
- Introduction to College Writing Course descriptions in the Course Catalog
Writing Classes
- ENG 101 Introduction to College Writing
- ENG 010 College Writing Workshop
- ENG 060 Writing for Multilingual (ESL) Students
- ENG 199 Independent Writing
- ENG 280 Writing in Professional Contexts
- ENG 282 Advanced Writing: Digital Controversies
- ENG 399 Independent Writing
- ENG 499 Independent Writing
Wheaton offers a major in Creative Writing and a minor in Journalism.
Publish your Writing
Wheaton Students share their ideas, insights and knowledge through multiple media
Rushlight
Nearly 175 years old, Wheaton’s annual literary magazine publishes poetry, prose and original artwork. November deadlines. Contact Professor Kent Shaw (shaw_kent@wheatoncollege.eu) to learn more.
Five-Minute Play Festival
Playwright-in-Residence Professor Charlotte Meehan runs this competition twice yearly, once in October and once in February. Contact Charlotte at meehan_charlotte@wheatoncollege.edu for details.
See the Student Opportunities page for more information.
The Wheaton Wire
Wheaton’s only student-run newspaper featuring both on and off-campus news.
Share Your Thesis
Planning for post-graduation? Finishing your senior thesis? Share it with current students in Wheaton’s Digital Repository.
Wheaton’s Social Media
Tutors
Wheaton’s peer writing tutors work in Wallace Library. (The first door on your left after you enter via the main entrance.) Drop in on them if you seek advice from experienced student writers.
If you need more specialized support, email one of our writing faculty tutors for an appointment.
Support Courses
Students may enroll in College Writing Workshop (ENG 010) regardless of their major or class year. This is a half-credit workshop course.
Multilingual (ESL) students may enroll in Writing for Multilingual Students, a half-credit workshop course for international students.
Graduate School in Writing Studies
Graduate schools in writing studies (also known as composition and rhetoric) study writing pedagogy, and offer specializations in areas as varied as public persuasion; civic engagement; multi-language learning; writing center tutoring and administration, and science and technical writing. There are over 70 doctoral programs and 170 Master’s Degree programs in writing studies in the U.S.
Graduate Programs in Composition & Rhetoric
Graduate programs in composition and rhetoric offer Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Students in these programs research writing pedagogies, theories and philosophies. Specializations include teaching multi-lingual writers; composing for the web; science and technical writing, among others.
The Rhetoric Society of America (RSA) provides an extensive list of the top graduate programs in the U.S.
Helpful Websites
- Purdue U’s Online Writing Lab provides current advice for writing in all disciplines.
- Self-Study Quizzes for ESL offers grammar quizzes and crossword puzzles.
- The Norton Field Guide to Writing posts guidelines for composing in a wide range of genres and rhetorical situations; information about APA, MLA, and Chicago Style source use and documentation and writing process tips.
- Writing Spaces hosts downloadable articles about writing-related topics written by teachers for students.
- Help with All Writing UNC Writing Center
- Virtual Salt is a handbook of rhetorical terms.
