Writing Program

Mission

The Embry-Riddle writing program offers students opportunities to become more critical and more rhetorically savvy users of language and writing. Students are challenged to think critically; to shape written messages effectively; to conduct meaningful, ethical research; and to engage critically with the role and power of language. Courses introduce students to rhetorical concepts that are useful for navigating new writing situations. Students hone these skills to succeed in future writing-intensive courses, as well as their personal and professional contexts.

English Composition

All Embry-Riddle students are required to earn a grade of C or better in English Composition (COM 122). English Composition emphasizes the research process, analysis and argument, and effective written communication.

Students for whom English is not a first language benefit from taking a parallel version of English Composition that is designed for non-native speakers of English: COM 122 MLW (Multilingual Writers).

Developmental Writing

Some incoming students are not prepared for COM 122 or COM 122 MLW. These students are placed in a course that helps them develop the basic writing and critical thinking skills they will need in order to be successful in COM 122.

Fundamentals of Communication

Fundamentals of Communication (COM 20) is designed for native speakers of English who need to develop foundational writing skills.

Fundamentals of Communication for Non-Native Speakers of English (COM 18) parallels COM 20 and is designed for multilingual writers who need to develop foundational writing skills.

Both COM 20 and 18 emphasize analysis and argument as well as effective written communication by progressing from sentences to paragraphs to essays.

Academic English for Multilingual Writers

Academic English for Non-Native Speakers (COM 8) is designed for multilingual writers who are not yet prepared for Com 18. This course emphasizes effective written communication by progressing from sentences to paragraphs.

Course Placement

Enrollment in the proper composition course is essential, so students need to complete the online Composition Evaluation (Comp Eval) in order to assure that they are placed in the course that best suits their needs. The evaluation takes one hour and can be accessed by going to ERNIE > Student Resources > Evaluations > Composition Evaluation. Once the Comp Eval has been assessed, the results will be available on a student’s Campus Solutions page.

Any questions can be emailed to the Director of the Writing Program Caitlin Martin at Caitlin.Martin@erau.edu.