Satisfying the PWR without WRT 105

The criteria for satisfying the primary writing requirement (PWR) with a course other than WRT 105 is outlined below. 

Essay Features

The essay includes a:

  • Clear question or problem
  • Clear thesis
  • Successful organization, including an effective introduction and conclusion, well- structured paragraphs, topic clarity, logical flow, transitions within and between paragraphs,
  • Balance of summary and critical analysis
  • Appropriate attribution and citation of source material

Strength of Argument

The essay:

  • Identifies an interesting question or problem
  • Engages a debatable thesis
  • Evaluates sources and supports an argument with appropriate evidence
  • Engages sources in a dialogue and differentiates between the writer’s and sources’ ideas
  • Demonstrates awareness of other perspectives and engages those perspectives, while ensuring the writer’s perspective guides the text
  • Uses paragraphs to advance the argument (as opposed to reiterating ideas)

Language Use

The essay:

  • Uses standard American edited English appropriate to the genre of academic writing
  • Makes sentence-level choices appropriate for the essay's audience and purpose: this would include, for example, choices about vocabulary, sentence structure, sentence length, and degree of concision

Critical Awareness of One’s Own Writing

  • The student demonstrates awareness of his/her strengths and weaknesses as a writer.
  • The student articulates and provides a rationale for writing choices and/or revision.