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Princeton Writing Program

Writing is integral to intellectual pursuits of every kind, whether in the humanities, the social or natural sciences, mathematics, or engineering. The Princeton Writing Program was established to encourage excellence in writing at the University through writing seminars for freshmen and a Writing Center for all students.

Writing seminars have a common goal--for students, through practice and guidance, to master essential strategies and techniques of college-level inquiry and argument. Students learn to frame interesting questions, make original claims, structure complex ideas, integrate sources of various kinds, and revise for greater cogency and clarity. In addition to writing frequently and completing four major assignments of increasing complexity, students receive intensive instruction in academic writing, submit drafts for review, and attend one-on-one conferences with their instructor. They also learn to navigate the University library and receive instruction in essential library research skills. To provide students with a worthwhile occasion for writing, each seminar is based on an intellectually stimulating topic, chosen specifically to animate students' writing with compelling questions, debates, and problems. Among the many different writing seminars offered are courses on important historical figures and events, urgent social issues, scientific breakthroughs, and influential artistic traditions. The writing seminar is required of all freshmen, who are assigned in late July to a term, fall or spring, in which to take the course and who make their topic selection based on their interests.

The Writing Center offers student writers free one-on-one conferences with experienced fellow writers trained to consult on assignments in any discipline. Students may bring writing projects to the Writing Center in any form--ideas, rough notes, or a first or full draft. Writing Center fellows offer advice about the writing process, from getting started to revising, and can work with students on essential elements of academic writing, such as thesis, organization, use of sources, and clarity of ideas and sentences. Appointments may be scheduled online.

For more information about the Princeton Writing Program, visit the program website.