Because Cornell’s writing seminars may expect a greater range of writing abilities than many students have exposure to in high school, the Writing Workshop provides an opportunity for students to discover how well current writing skills fit into what Cornell expects.

During the FWS Writing Consultation, students submit short writing samples and meet with writing specialists for advice on which First-Year Writing Seminars are most appropriate for their learning styles and previous experience with academic writing.

How to participate

Students can participate in the FWS Writing Consultation in one of three ways:

• submit their first FWS essay to the FWS Writing Consultation Canvas site (through Open Enrollment Add Period);
• submit a writing sample from a previous FWS or college-level writing course to the FWS Writing Consultation Canvas site (through the first week of classes); or
• submit a short essay in response to one of three writing prompts available on the FWS Writing Consultation Canvas site (up to the first day of class).

For more information about the FWS Writing Consultation process, students can attend INFORMATION SESSIONS during the Summer Scholars Institute, the PREPARE Program for International Students, and Cornell's New Student Orientation. They can also consult directly with Writing Workshop Director Tracy Hamler Carrick:

• email Dr. Carrick and/or
• schedule a 15-minute appointment with a Knight Writing Specialist

Occasionally, FWS Instructors recommend that students seek a FWS Writing Consultation. The FWS Essay Referral takes place during the first several weeks of the fall and spring semesters. If appropriate, the Writing Workshop Director can help students transfer to other courses or arrange for tutoring support.

The Writing Workshop offers two alternate route First-Year Writing Seminars: WRIT 1340: “Introduction to Writing in the University,” (Pre-Freshman Summer Program only)  and WRIT 1370 (Fall) and WRIT 1380 (Spring): "Elements of Academic Writing." These courses are designed for students who did not have formal writing instruction in high school, are unfamiliar with academic writing, have serious difficulty with writing assignments, or feel a general lack of confidence about their writing. Some sections of these First-Year Writing Seminars are designed for international students and multilingual writers and include special instruction on developing fluency in academic English and navigating new cultures of writing. 

Learn more about WRIT 1370/80 "The Elements of Academic Writing"

The Writing Workshop provides multiple opportunities for students to work one-on-one with writing specialists. Most students schedule 60-minute appointments with the undergraduate and graduate writing tutors who staff the Cornell Writing Centers. A free service to all Cornell writers, the CWC is open 5 days a week and offers afternoon and evening hours in 5 campus locations. Some students seek more  consistent support, and depending on level of need and depth of commitment, students may be selected to participate in the KNIGHT WRITERS Mentor Program to work with peer writing tutors or Faculty Writing Consultants in weekly tutorials, or to enroll in WRIT 1390: “Special Topics in Writing,” a three-credit course for students who need ongoing support to build writing skills or to develop substantial writing projects. 

The Writing Workshop offers two courses (WRIT 7102: “Graduate Writing Workshop” and WRIT 7103: “Work in Progress”) to support graduate and professional students interested in refining writing skills as they develop and sustain long writing projects and prepare for disciplinary and professional writing expectations. Graduate and professional students, postdocs, and faculty can schedule occasional or regular appointments with writing tutors at the Graduate Writing Service, and international and multilingual graduate students and postdocs can also find coursework and tutorial support at the English Language Support Office.