About the Basic Writing Program

Courses in the Basic Writing Program at Columbia include 
52-1101, Introduction to College Writing
52-1111, English Writing and Rhetoric I: Enhanced
52-1112,  English Writing and Rhetoric II: Enhanced

These courses are for any Columbia student who, for whatever reason, has reservations about his or her present writing skills. For students whose high school experience did not supply them with much writing practice, or students whose diagnostic assessment scores indicate the need for intensive writing instruction, or students who feel underconfident about entering Writing and Rhetoric I, Basic Writing courses offer an intensive classroom environment (twelve students per class, supplemental one-on-one instruction with a personal Writing Center Consultant) in which students can develop and improve the writing skills necessary for success at the College level. 

Introduction to College Writing prepares students for the demands of Writing and Rhetoric I. Writing and Rhetoric I:  Enhanced covers the identical material as non-enhanced Writing and Rhetoric I, but students benefit from smaller class sizes and supplemental one-on-one instruction. Writing and Rhetoric II; Enhanced covers the identical material as non-enhanced Writing and Rhetoric II, but again, students benefit from small class sizes and supplemental one-on-one instruction. 

Questions about the Basic Writing program should be directed to M. Killian McCurrie, the director of Literacy for the English Department. Students looking for help with English as a Second Language should refer to our ESL pages.