College Writing Program

Program Overview
Welcome to the online version of American University's College Writing Program. The real program exists in the hundreds of hours our faculty and students spend reading, thinking, researching, writing, and responding to each other's writing. The real program exists in a student's discovery of an interesting question worth researching and writing about; in a faculty member's rich creation of a curriculum that spans disciplines; in the hearts and minds of all who discover, through writing and teaching of writing, the vast powers of individual creation.

Here you will get information about our curriculum, which emphasizes researched persuasive writing; information about our faculty and their courses (all theme-based and individually designed); information about our Writer as Witness Colloquium; and information about other on-line resources for writers. Browse, learn, enjoy. Whether you're a student, a colleague, or a curious parent, we welcome you to our program.

John Hyman
Director, College Writing Program

• CWP Philosophy
  • What Students Should Learn
  • What Teachers Should Do
• Grading Criteria
• Courses
• CWP Faculty
• Academic Integrity Code
• Writer As Witness
• Writing Tools
• Teaching Tools
• Writing Center