Writing is an integral part of the Liberal Studies Program. Every course in the program requires that students write to demonstrate their mastery of material. Writing provides students with an important method for organizing and expressing their thoughts, and it helps students to develop and enhance their critical, analytical, and interpretive skills.
Writing proficiency is required for the NYU bachelor’s degree. Taking the Writing II course and receiving a minimum grade of C will fulfill the writing proficiency requirement. A Writing II grade that is below C requires that the student repeat the course.
- Writing I and II
- Writing II: The Artist & Critic in New York
- Writing II: Service Learning
Writing I and II
Writing I and II comprise a two-semester writing sequence in which students develop analytical thinking abilities in the context of academic essay writing. Writing I has two main objectives. The first is to develop students’ self-confidence and fluency by engaging them in the use of writing to express, explore, and develop ideas through a variety of forms, including informal writing (free writing, journal writing, etc.). The second objective is to engage them in practicing the critical and analytical skills they will use throughout their two years in LS's writing-intensive program. The course is conducted as a workshop. Students produce a wide range of writing, both in and out of class, which forms the basis for classroom activities. All papers go through multiple drafts, often with input from peers in addition to the instructor.
In Writing II, students develop their skills in analysis and argumentation by exploring the ways in which the ideas of others can be incorporated into their own writing. Students read and discuss longer, more challenging texts; in their own writing, students are expected to incorporate a broad range of primary and secondary sources to develop and support their increasingly complex ideas. Students are familiarized with a wide variety of possible resources at the library and learn the mechanics and conventions of the academic research essay. The course continues to encourage in-class participation, collaborative learning, and workshop presentations.
In addition to the standard sections of Writing II described above, LS offers two specialized Writing II sections. These sections are designed for students pursuing a major in visual and performing arts, teaching, or social work or for anyone interested in combining the Writing II class experience with a community service project.
Writing II: The Artist & Critic in New York
This course is designed for students who are interested in thinking and writing about visual art---film, video, painting, photography, sculpture, theater, and dance. The class will focus on a number of questions: What is the relationship between the critic and the artist? How do critics write about the art they see? In what ways is the critic an artist herself? How does the city alter and shape the work of artists and critics? What expertise, research, and ways of seeing can we bring to visual texts? How do artists and critics influence one another? What does it mean to look and look again, especially in one's own writing and art? In order to engage these questions we will work with theoretical texts, visual texts, primary research, secondary research, and of course, our own writing. We will also take advantage of the city's art offerings by way of field trips to museums and galleries.
Writing II: Service Learning
Service Learning fulfills the Writing II writing requirement for students pursuing careers in social work or teaching as well as for others who wish to expand their education through community service. Students read a variety of texts related to education and social issues and develop independent research projects by participating in volunteer work that is meaningful to them and to the communities they serve. This work culminates in a final paper combining ethnography, personal experience, and critical reflection.
