The Writing Requirement applies to all students in the College of
Arts and Sciences. The requirement also applies to all transfer
students and double-degree students . Students changing divisions from
Conservatory to College or becoming double-degree candidates are also
subject to the requirement. The Department of Rhetoric and Composition
has been designated to administer the requirement.
The Writing Requirement may be satisfied in any of the following three ways:
- By a score of 710 or better on the old SAT II Writing Test or by a score of 5 on the English Language /Composition or Literature/Composition Advanced Placement Examination.
- By certification of proficiency in writing from two different Oberlin College instructors who have taught the student in specially designated "writing intensive" or "writing certification" courses in two different departments or programs. One of these may be a private reading course or (by approval of the Department of Rhetoric and Composition Chair) a Winter Term course.
- In rare cases, the Chair of the Department of Rhetoric and Composition may allow students to take a proficiency exam. Students are strongly urged to take at least one step toward achieving writing proficiency as soon as possible, preferably during their first year.
Table of Contents:
- Writing Certification Courses
- Writing Intensive Courses
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Conservatory Students
- Transfer Students
- Word of Caution about the Writing Requirement
- Alternate Ways to Earn Writing Credit Proficiency
- Fulfilling the Writing Requirement before coming to Oberlin
- Special Advice for Students with Special Needs
Writing Certification Courses
Courses
that bear the designation WR are those in which a substantial amount of
writing (approximately 15 pages) is required but which do not devote
special attention to instruction in writing except at the instructor's
option. Instructors will evaluate papers for writing ability and will
decide, at the end of the course, whether the student is to receive a
writing proficiency credit based on the Criteria for Writing
Proficiency (add link), independent of the course grade. To fulfill the
graduation requirement, students need to earn two certification credits
from writing-certification or writing-intensive course work in two
different departments.
Writing Intensive Courses
Courses
that bear the designation WRi are those in which substantial essay
writing (approx. 15 pp.) is assigned and writing pedagogy is stressed
to a significant degree. The normal expectation is that the instructor
will introduce the student to the methods of writing papers for the
discipline in which the course is offered. Several papers will be
assigned during the course; students will receive detailed evaluations
of their writing skills as well as content; some time will be devoted
to the discussion of student writing, both in class and in conferences;
and a certain amount of rewriting/revision will normally be expected.
Although there is an emphasis on instruction in these courses, students
may earn a certification credit only if the instructor judges their
work to be proficient.
Detailed information about criteria and
standards for evaluating writing proficiency are available from the
Chair of the Department of Rhetoric and Composition in King 139.
Please
note that a passing grade will not necessarily result in a writing
proficiency credit; certification will depend on the instructor's
appraisal of the student's writing ability.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
The
college has developed a number of courses and programs for students who
need help with the writing of English as a Second Language. A placement
test given before the start of the academic year begins will help
determine the course ESL students should take. Katerina Grim in the
Dean of Studies Office oversees the ESL program and can help place you
in the appropriate course.
For more information regarding ESL please click here.
Conservatory Students
Most
of the information we provide on these www pages applies to the Writing
Requirement for students of the Oberlin College of Arts and Sciences.
Only undergraduate majors in two divisions of the Oberlin Conservatory
of Music have a writing requirement: the Division of Winds, Brass and
Percussion and the Division of Vocal Studies. Conservatory students
pursuing other majors do not have to worry about a writing requirement,
unless they are pursuing a double degree with the College of Arts and
Sciences (although most find that good writing is necessary in some of
their courses). In any case Conservatory students are welcome to take
Department of Rhetoric and Composition and Writing Certification or
Writing Intensive courses in the College.
Expository Writing
Proficiency. Students with an SAT verbal score below 580 or an ACT
score below 24, or a TOEFL score below 600 must complete one course
chosen from the RHET 111-119 series in the Rhetoric and Composition
Department. All double-degree students must adhere to the College of
Arts and Sciences writing requirements, found under "Requirements for Graduation" in the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalog.
If
you are concerned about whether or not the Expository Writing
Proficiency Requirement applies to your major, or how you might fulfill
it if it does, begin by consulting your faculty advisor. If you still
have questions after that, see Dean Marci Alegant in Bibbins 123.
Transfer Students
It
is possible to have writing course credit earned at other colleges or
universities count toward the Writing Requirement at Oberlin College.
But it takes some time, so start as soon as possible.
Here's the process:
- Make an appointment with the Chair of the Department of Rhetoric & Composition, to discuss your situation (email Laurie.McMillin@oberlin.edu or telephone 440/775-8614).
- If it looks likely that your course credit will be applicable to the Writing Requirement, the Chair will ask you to gather as many of the materials as you can find from your previous course(s)--course descriptions, syllabi, the writing you did, a copy of your transcript noting the grade(s) you earned. Neatly arrange these materials in a large envelope with a cover letter addressed to the director, listing and explaining what each item in the envelope is. Turn in (or send) this packet of materials to the Rhetoric & Composition office in King 139.
- The Chair will then determine whether or not the materials you have submitted will satisfy your Writing Requirement. Even if they do not satisfy the Requirement, he/she will be able to advise you on logical next steps for completing the Requirement.
- If the materials you have submitted do satisfy the Requirement, the Chair will inform the Registrar that you have completed the requirement and it should show up on a future transcript.
A Word of Caution about the Writing Requirement
You
should not assume that a single entry-level Department of Rhetoric and
Composition course will fulfill one of your two Writing Certification
course requirements. The Department of Rhetoric and Composition intends
for these courses to give students the writing instruction that will
enable them to achieve certification in other Writing Intensive or
Writing Certification courses. It is possible that you might
demonstrate sufficient skill in academic writing to earn certification
in this course, but passing a course in Rhetoric and Composition does
not automatically entitle you to it. If you have any questions about
this or any particularly strong reasons for wanting to earn
certification through these courses, please talk to your instructor
about them as soon as possible.
One course offered by the
Department of Rhetoric and Composition cannot be used for Writing
Certification at all: 107 (Practicum in Journalism).
Alternative Ways to Earning Writing Proficiency Credit
In
addition to taking Writing Certification and Writing Intensive courses,
students can also request that their work in Private Readings, Winter
Term, or Honors Projects be considered for certification. If the
faculty supervising such a project finds the writing produced
proficient, according to the Department of Rhetoric and Composition's criteria,
she or he can write to the Director (by hardcopy, at the Department of
Rhetoric and Composition office in King 139) informing him/her that the
student has earned certification. The Director will then inform the
Registrar of the student's certification.
Fulfilling the Writing Requirement Before You Come to Oberlin
Nearly
a third of the entering class each year manages it. According to the
Course Catalogue, one way to pass the Writing Proficiency Requirement
is:
- By a score of 710 or better on the old SAT II Writing Test or by a score of 5 on the English Language /Composition or Literature/Composition Advanced Placement Examination.
- Occasionally students are also granted Writing Certification credit for expository writing course credit transferred from other colleges or universities.
Special Advice for Students with Special Needs
If
you have special learning or physical needs and are concerned about
living and working at Oberlin, we suggest you contact Jane Boomer ,
Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities, in Peters G27.
Along with Ms. Boomer, we in the Department of Rhetoric &
Composition will be happy to try to accommodate your needs or advise
you on strategies for passing the Writing Requirement and succeeding in
writing assignments at Oberlin.
