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Welcome students, faculty, advisors, and parents

This web resource brings together information about writing at the University of Oklahoma.

David L. Boren  

Our goal is to help OU students meet the highest possible standards of excellence in writing. Learning to write clearly is critical to success in life and to success in all other academic courses. To write well students are required to focus their thinking and to organize their thoughts in a clear and convincing fashion.

        -David L. Boren, OU President

The university recognizes the challenges and the rewards of writing well
and provides supportive experiences through courses and services.


Writing takes place everywhere and involves everyone at a university. The campus commitment to student writing starts with our first-year writing courses, which count toward the General Education requirements in the area of symbolic and oral communication. Our University College advisors guide new students to the appropriate writing courses based on individual factors, such as placements and level of preparation. Most students then move through the writing intensive General Education core curriculum: Gen Ed course instructors, from anthropology to zoology, practice the following policy:

Writing should be incorporated into all general education courses. The amount of writing will vary, depending on class size and the level of support for the class. However, each course should include one or more writing components such as essay exams, graded journals, laboratory reports or term papers.

Beyond general education there are many opportunities for writing in the major and beyond the curriculum. Support for writing takes many forms and we encourage students to seek out their instructors, peer tutors, mentors, and advisors for feedback and guidance as they develop as writers.

As the director of OU Writing Center Programs – which includes our student writing center and our writing across the curriculum initiatives—I know how vital writing is for learning and for preparing to enter a profession. It is important to our administration and faculty that students receive guidance, support, and direct instruction in writing as they move through our programs.

I welcome your questions and comments,

Michele Eodice
Director of the Conoco Phillips Writing Center and
Writing Across the Curriculum at the University of Oklahoma 		Michele Eodice

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