Expository Writing

All Skidmore students are required to successfully complete one designated Expository Writing course by the end of their sophomore year: EN 105, EN 105H, EN 110, or a designated Writing Intensive course in another department (listed with "W" in the course number).

Students placed in “EN 103: Writing Seminar I” must complete this prerequisite course by the end of the first year. In some cases, students may be required to complete preparatory courses in their first semester before enrolling in EN 103. Skidmore's writing program includes tutorial help at the Writing Center.

DSP Required to Register for courses

To enroll in any Expository Writing course, all students must first complete the Directed Self-Placement (DSP) activity for Expository Writing placement.

The DSP asks you to write a short essay in response to a text and then reflect thoughtfully about your essay, your writing process, and your experiences as a writer. At the end of the DSP, you will choose the course that best addresses your needs and abilities as a writer.

You can access the DSP here: https://www.skidmore.edu/apps/english

If you have any questions about the DSP process, please contact Thad Niles, Director of Expository Writing, at tniles@skidmore.edu or 518-580-8114.

Expository Writing Courses

EN 103 Writing Seminar I (Credits: 4)
Introduction to expository writing with weekly writing assignments emphasizing skills in developing ideas, organizing material, and creating thesis statements. Assignments provide practice across a range of academic genres, clarifying essential moves like definition, description, synthesis, and argumentation. Additional focus on grammar, syntax, and usage. Students respond to one another's work in workshops or peer critique sessions. Weekly informal writing complements assignents of longer finished papers. Students are required to meet regularly with Writing Center tutors for course credit.

Note: This course does not fulfill the all-college requirement in expository writing.

EN 105 Writing Seminar II (Credits: 4)
This seminar immerses students in the process of producing finished analytical essays informed by more intensive critical reading and careful reasoning. Special attention is given to developing ideas, writing from sources, organizing material, and revising drafts. Additional emphasis on grammar, style, and formal conventions of writing. Students respond to one another’s work in workshops or peer critique sessions. Weekly informal writing complements assignments of longer finished papers.

Note: This course fulfills the all-college requirement in expository writing.

EN 105H Writing Seminar II (Credits: 4)
The honors sections of EN 105 offer highly motivated students with strong verbal skills the opportunity to refine their ability to analyze sophisticated ideas, to hone their rhetorical strategies, and to develop cogent arguments. Toward these goals, students write and revise essays drawing upon a variety of challenging readings and critique each other’s work with an eye to depth and complexity of thought, logic of supporting evidence, and subtleties of style. The English Department places some students in EN 105H and encourages other students to consult with their advisors, the director of the Honors Forum, or the director of the Expository Writing Program to determine if this level of Writing Seminar is appropriate. Each section of EN 105H focuses on a topic that is listed in the master schedule and described in the English Department’s prospectus and on its webpage.

Note: This course fulfills the all-college requirement in expository writing.

EN 110 Writing about Literature (Credits: 4)
Immerses students in the process of producing finished analytical essays informed by close reading of literary texts. Special attention is given to developing ideas, writing from texts, organizing material, and revising drafts. Additional emphasis is on grammar, style, and formal conventions of writing. Students respond to one another's work in workshops or peer critique sessions.

Note: This course fulfills the all-college requirement in expository writing.

W-Listed Courses in Other Disciplines

Most students satisfy the Expository Writing requirement with one of the English courses above. But writing courses in other departments are occasionally offered—just search for “W” courses that satisfy the EW requirement when building your schedule.

Different EW-satisfying courses may be offered each semester, but some recent examples include:

AM 101W - (Various Topics)
PH 110W - Political Philosophy
HI 230W - History Through Travel

Appeals to DSP writing placement

The DSP activity is the best chance for students to carefully reflect on their writing experiences and strengths. However, if students make a mistake in placement, they can contact the Director of Expository Writing (Thad Niles, tniles@skidmore.edu) to either change or appeal their placement, according to the timeline below.

When considering a change, students should carefully consider the factors that led them to their initial placement. The aim of the EW requirement is to build a solid foundation for college writing, especially beyond the immediate demands of the first year's (relatively gentle) transition. Reflect on the difference between “surviving” an EN105 vs. building lasting skills that stand out in a field of strong writers. College and professional writing are tremendously challenging; finishing the requirement as quickly as possible is often a double-edged sword for writers-in-development.

Finally, some students may have special restrictions on their DSP placement. If your DSP was reviewed or determined by a faculty member during the summer, you typically cannot appeal your placement later, or doing so would require special approval from your program advisor.

Appeals Timeline:

Skidmore uses a self-placement model during the summer only. During the summer period, most changes are routine--e.g., a quick email message--because students are placing themselves.

During the academic year, changes to placement are considered appeals and may be approved or denied based on a review of the student's writing samples and rationale for the change. This rationale should focus on the student writer rather than factors like time conflicts, scheduling pressures, etc.

There is an October 1 deadline for changes out of EN103 placement (i.e., changing from EN103 to EN105 placement). This is an important deadline for planning spring courses, since EN103 must be completed by the end of the first year.

Requests to move out of EN103 after October 1 are considered exceptional cases, but they can still be submitted. These late appeals may not be approved, or may not be resolved in time for registration, so students should plan to remain in EN103 as their default placement if needed.

Time Window	Action
Summer Period	Students can change DSP placement with an email to the Director of Expository Writing.
Start of Term until Oct. 1	Students can appeal to change their placement via email.
After Oct. 1	Appeals to move out of EN103 are considered exceptional cases; all other placements can send appeals as usual.

Appeals Process:

To appeal your writing placement, email the following materials to the Director of Expository Writing (Thad Niles, tniles@skidmore.edu):

1. Your best two analytical, thesis-driven essays, ideally “marked up” with teacher commentary that shows how the writing was received against the assignment goals. This feedback is important data for making a case that the essay was completed successfully or effectively. The best writing samples will develop ideas over 4+ pages and demonstrate the same analytical, source-informed writing skills needed to succeed in an EN105 course (or equivalent EW course).

2. The assignment descriptions for the essays.

3. A rationale for the change (typically around one page, double-spaced).

Feel free to also send any questions to tniles@skidmore.edu.

The appeals process takes some time. Please note the October 1 deadline for the best chance at a successful appeal. Not every appeal will be approved; preparing a compelling file that demonstrates your readiness matters to the decision.