The Critical Writing Program
Center for Programs in Contemporary Writing
www.writing.upenn.edu/critical
3808 Walnut Street
215 573 2729

As part of Penn's Center for Programs in Contemporary Writing, the Critical Writing Program strengthens the university's deep commitment to developing and refining the critical thinking, writing, and collaborative skills of our undergraduate students. Dedicated to teaching writing and to creating a community of writers across schools and disciplines, the Critical Writing Program brings together a uniquely discipline-based writing curriculum with dynamic out-of-the-classroom writer's workshops, symposia and readings; student-centered literary projects and publications; world-renowned Writers House Fellows; and Penn Senior Writing Fellows, distinguished writers and scholars, nationally recruited.

Penn undergraduates across all four schools fulfill their writing requirement through seminars offered by the Critical Writing Program. They continue to advance their skills by enrolling in writing-intensive courses affiliated with the Critical Writing program. They receive additional writing support and feedback from peer and senior tutors in our Writing Center.

Courses in the Critical Writing Program include:

Critical Writing Seminars: "009s"	Discipline-based writing seminars offered across the university and numbered "009." For example, BIOL 009, CHEM 009, ENGL 009, HIST 009, PSYC 009. Focusing on critical writing, thinking, and collaborative skills, each seminar takes up a current topic in its discipline as the basis for writing and discussion. Open to all Penn undergraduates. No prior knowledge of the field necessary. A superb opportunity for freshmen to explore new disciplines as they are introduced to college-level writing. For more information about the writing seminars visit the Description and Goal Statement. Critical Writing Seminars fulfill the writing requirement for all undergraduates at Penn.
Freshman Writing Seminars	Taught by standing faculty, these seminars are open only to freshmen. Discipline-based and writing-intensive, the seminars may diverge in certain respects from the Critical Writing Seminars described above but similarly emphasize critical thinking, collaborative, and writing skills. The freshman writing seminars fulfill the writing requirement for all undergraduates.
English 125	Advanced writing seminars with varying non-fiction topics designed for upperclassmen and exceptional freshmen. Typically taught by professional writers and specifically focused on one or a few genres of writing. Freshmen who wish to be considered for admission may submit a portfolio of academic writing to critwrit@writing.upenn.edu and indicate the name of the course to which they seek entry. English 125 fulfills the writing requirement for all undergraduates.
English 011: Global English for Multilingual Students	Intended for multilingual students who would benefit from a focus on American college conventions and additional practice in speaking and writing English. As with all writing seminars, the seminar emphasizes critical thinking, writing, and collaborative skills and is topic-based, organized around the issues and politics of English as a global language. English 011 provides additional community to the many talented multilingual students who attend Penn. English 011 meets an additional hour each week and fulfills the writing requirement for all undergraduates.
College Writing and Research	Discipline-based advanced writing seminars numbered "129": ENGL 129, ANTH 129, PSCI 129. Organized around a research topic, the seminars focus on developing scholarly writing and research skills. They place particular emphasis on research writing techniques and research methods, technologies, and presentation skills. The seminar typically culminates in a research proposal and multimedia collaborative project. Priority is given to upperclassmen. Freshmen who wish to be considered for admission must submit a portfolio of academic writing to critwrit@writing.upenn.edu and indicate the course in which they wish to enroll. The research writing seminars fulfill the writing requirement.
ENG 135: Peer Tutor Training and Fieldwork	Open only to freshmen and sophomores who have been nominated by faculty and have successfully completed a writing seminar. Nominations are based upon the student’s competence as a writer, distinction as a peer reviewer, and maturity, discipline, social skills, and collegiality in the classroom. In addition to the nomination, applicants must submit a writing sample and be interviewed by the Director of Critical Writing. Typically only twelve students are admitted to the seminar each year. Upon successful completion, students are offered employment as Peer Tutors in the Writing Center and as Writing TAs for a range of courses in the disciplines. They also serve as members of the Student Advisory Board of the Critical Writing Program. English 135 does not fulfill the writing requirement.
WATU, Writing-Intensive, and Writing in the Majors Courses	Courses in the disciplines that emphasize writing and are taught by standing or affiliated faculty. Students enrolled in these writing-intensive courses engage in an ongoing process of drafting, revision, and peer review of their work. They are guided by and confer regularly with a Writing TA or Writing Fellow. The designation "Writing Intensive" will appear on the transcript of students who successfully complete the additional requirements and receive a C or better in their final grade for the course. Counts toward one-half the writing requirement for students who entered Penn prior to Fall 2005. Does not count toward the writing requirement for students who entered on or after Fall 2005 but will appear on the student transcript as "Writing Intensive."