WHO SHOULD TAKE FWIS 100?

Based on composition exam results, some students are required to complete FWIS 100: Introduction to Academic Writing to develop the skills they need to be successful in a FWIS course. Upon successful completion of FWIS 100 in the fall, students must take a general FWIS course in the spring in order to fullfill the Writing and Communication Requirement at Rice.

WHAT FWIS 100 COVERS

FWIS 100 introduces students to academic writing through topic-based courses designed to develop skills in reading, writing and composition. As they learn to edit their own work, students will acquire strategies to improve grammar, clarity and word choice.

Students participate in workshops and group discussions, as well as individual consultations with writing coaches outside of class time. Typical assignments might include mapping an academic argument, summarizing a scholarly article, or contributing to an online discussion forum.

HOW DO I CHOOSE MY FWIS 100 COURSE TOPIC?

Unlike general FWIS courses, all FWIS 100 courses carry the same “100” number. However, each FWIS 100 section is a different class, taught by a variety of instructors with distinct areas of scholarly expertise. To choose your preferred section, you should first review the topic descriptions on the FWIS 100 Course Topics page, then find the appropriate section in the Course Scheduler.

FWIS 100 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After taking FWIS 100, students will be able to:

1. Distinguish between academic and other genres of writing and reading
2. Understand purpose, argument, and structure of college-level readings
3. Improve sentence level accuracy of Standard Written English
4. Use appropriate academic tone in writing
5. Construct a written academic argument with a thesis, supporting claims, and relevant evidence
6. Recognize the academic practice of using and acknowledging the work of others in one’s own writing.