The MCC Writing Program
The MCC Writing Program
Writing courses at MCC work to develop critical reading and thinking skills, ensuring students are prepared for their academic coursework and professional careers. Experienced writing faculty use a variety of innovative methods to help students develop effective written and oral communication.
“In my English class this semester, I learned a lot when it comes to academic writing. I gained skills that will be so useful to me in my future assignments, professional life, and even personal communication. This class enabled me to know that writing just like any other skill needs to be learned with a lot of determination and practice for it to be mastered.” - Purity Mosonik, Nursing, Fall 2020
“Throughout this course I have learned to properly implement writing strategies and practice empathy, critical thinking, communication, and research. The use of writing in this course has given me a better understanding of what my future career will entail, regarding writing in my future workplace.” - Katherine Weymouth, Early Elementary, Fall 2020
The Writing Program at Middlesex Community College prepares students to become skilled writers, readers and thinkers within any field. When enrolling at MCC students will meet with an academic advisor to discuss placement in one of the following levels:
- English Language Learner (ELL courses, for multilingual students still gaining college level skills in written English)
- Reading, Writing, and Reasoning (ENG 092, for students who need more support in college level reading)
- Accelerated Learning Program (ENG 099/101, for students who are ready to take English Composition 1 but require an additional support course alongside it)
- English Composition 1 (ENG 101, for students who are ready to take college level writing without any support course)
- Honors English Composition 1 (ENG 101-Honors, for high achieving students who had at least a 3.2 high school GPA, or a verbal SAT score of 600 or a combined SAT score of 1150, or who take the English Accuplacer test and place into Honors)
Once students successfully complete ENG 101-Composition 1 with a C- or better, they will progress to ENG 102-English Composition 2, which is the last required Composition course.
All students, when graduating with a degree from MCC, will have taken ENG 101 and ENG 102:
ENG 101: English Composition 1 focuses on developing students’ academic writing, close reading, and critical thinking skills. Using a writing process that includes pre-writing, drafting, instructor and peer feedback, and revision, students will produce written essays with arguable thesis statements and appropriate use of standard English. Students will produce a total of 18-24 pages of formal polished writing in three or more source-based essays.
ENG 102: Building on skills learned in English Composition I, students will sharpen their academic writing, close reading, and critical thinking skills, as well as develop research skills. Using a writing process that includes pre-writing, drafting, instructor and peer feedback, and revision, students will produce thesis-driven, evidence-based essays that employ appropriate rhetorical strategies. In English Composition 2, students will be introduced to at least two documentation styles and will produce a total of 18-24 pages of polished formal writing in three or more source-based essays.
For help with writing, visit MCC’s Tutoring Center: https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/ace/defwriting.aspx
Here are some additional guides to help you with writing, research and documentation:
OWL Excelsior: https://owl.excelsior.edu/
MLA Guide: https://style.mla.org/