For Faculty

About Writing At Queens for Faculty

Overview

Writing classes at Queens College give students opportunities to compose across a variety of contexts and use a range of technologies to reach audiences both within and beyond the academy. In these courses, students practice:

    • Writing strategies: brainstorming, drafting, revision, and collaboration
    • Genre analysis: identifying and adapting to conventions in academic, professional, and public contexts
    • Research ethics: conducting and presenting research responsibly
    • Linguistic and digital resource use: leveraging multiple languages and digital tools to communicate effectively

Writing at Queens supports faculty in this work by offering workshops on designing courses that make meaningful and innovative use of writing. We also partner with departments and programs to integrate writing effectively into the curriculum. For questions or to schedule a consultation, please contact Amy.Wan@qc.cuny.edu.

Students at Queens College take four writing classes in order to graduate: 
    • College Writing 1: English 110 (Introduction to College Writing) 
    • College Writing 2: CW2 classes can be taken either in or out of the a student’s major. Students should consult their major departments to find out if there is a recommended course. 
    • Two Writing Intensive (W) classes: Writing intensive classes are either general education classes with a W designation or a major class with a W designation. W classes within a major are intended to provide preparation for discipline and field-specific writing.  

W classes can be taken either in or out of a student’s major. Students should consult their major departments to find out if there are recommended or required W courses for their majors. 

The Course Schedule site is a valuable resource to find current and approved courses offerings

QC Course Info Website

  • For current courses offerings, go to the Course Schedule tab.  
  • CW2 classes will list “Required Core-English Composition” in the Pathways Area column.  
  • Writing Intensive classes are found by toggling “Writing Intensive Only” (for W classes).

For all Approved QC Gen Ed Courses: 

      • search for  “English Composition” under Pathways Area for CW2 courses  
      • search for “Writing Intensive” under Writing Intensive/College Option for W courses 
    First-Year Writing at Queens College

    Writing is fundamental to a Queens College education. The First-Year Writing program prepares Queens College students to enter a scholarly conversation in writing and to gain experience and confidence to communicate with a variety of audiences both inside and outside of the classroom.   

    The College Writing curriculum is designed to give students a basic understanding of the principles and methods of college writing and research that they will continue to practice and master in their other classes. In short, this class offers the foundation for future success in any student’s major field of study. For more information about the First Year Writing program, please refer to the program’s website: First Year Writing Program – The Department of English

    College Writing 1

    College Writing 1 (CW1) at Queens College is English 110. It is a required class that all first-year students ideally take within their first year of college within the English department. This interdisciplinary class fosters confidence and helps students to develop an approach to pursuing academic and public writing projects, effectively managing time, and taking ownership of their writing and editing processes. This course counts towards three of the six credits in English Composition (EC1) for Pathways.  

    College Writing 2

    College Writing 2 (CW2) is a class that students typically take in their second semester of college. It builds on the outcomes of College Writing 1 (CW1). However, unlike with CW1, a student may take CW2 outside of the English department, ideally within the same discipline as their major, to build the rhetorical skills they will need most. An English major might take ENGL 130 as their CW2 course, for example, while a Sociology major might take SOC 190. This course counts towards three of the six credits in English Composition (EC2) for Pathways.  

    Student Learning Outcomes for College Writing 1 and 2

    The learning outcomes for both CW1 and CW2 are the same. By the end the sequence, students should be able to:  

        1. Produce writing that responds appropriately to a variety of rhetorical situations with a particular focus on academic argumentation. 
        2. Learn reading strategies to summarize, synthesize, analyze, and critique other people’s arguments and ideas fairly. 
        3. Learn research practices that will help strengthen their writing and thinking. 
        4. Produce writing that shows how writers may navigate the diverse processes of composing including revision and collaboration. 
        5. Produce writing that strategically employs appropriate language conventions in different writing situations. 
        6. Take ownership of their work and gain an understanding of their own voice, style, and strengths.