The UW English Comp Requirement

Assessing Yourself as a Writer

Before deciding what composition course you want to take, we encourage you to answer these self-assessment questions to help you think about what kind of writer you are and how, generally, you feel about writing.

  • When you read something difficult, how comfortable are you summarizing and rephrasing it in clear language?
  • How comfortable are you connecting something you've read to other things you've read? How comfortable are you using what you've read in support of your own ideas?
  • How comfortable are you writing for different audiences and in different contexts? Can you adjust your content and style to move from one genre to another?
  • How comfortable are you writing a paper that convinces (through the use of evidence and analysis) someone else of your point of view?
  • How comfortable are you in organizing and proofreading your writing?
  • How comfortable are you with assessing the quality of your writing and asking for help when needed? Do you feel comfortable revising your paper when you receive feedback on it?
  • How comfortable are you with this statement: "I don't need to spend more time to focus on my writing skills. I want to consider how my writing could be used in specific college level contexts."

If most of your answers were:  
Uncomfortable  Look for courses for adequate writers, especially those that focus explicitly on writing skills and habits. (Entry-level classes offered by the English Department's Expository Writing Program might be a good fit for you.)
Comfortable   Look for courses for adequate writers, either those that focus explicitly on writing skills and habits or those that explore content areas. (If you'd prefer to focus on general writing practices, entry- or intermediate-level classes offered by the English Department's Expository Writing Program might be a good fit for you. If you'd rather consider how your writing can be used in a specific disciplinary context, entry- or intermediate-level classes offered by the English Department's Interdisciplinary Writing Program or the Comparative Literature Department might be a good fit for you.)
Very Comfortable  Look for courses for strong writers and chose one that seems interesting to you. (Intermediate-level classes offered by the English Department or the Honors Program might be a good fit for you.)

Next: Choosing a course to fulfill your "composition" credit »