Writing Program

"I am my language. Until I can take pride in my language, I cannot take pride in myself."

—Gloria Anzaldua

"When you get out into the world, nobody is going to ask what grade you got in freshmen composition.  They’ll only expect you to show that you can write."

—Tom Brown, Managing Principal at TBA Associates & former Dean at Saint Mary’s College, CA

"Grammar is a piano I play by ear.  All I know about grammar is its power." 

—Joan Didion

"The grammatical choices we make—including pronoun use, active or passive verb constructions, and sentence patterns—represent relations between writers and the world they live in."

—Laura Micciche, Assistant Professor, English, University of Cincinnati

Welcome to the Writing Program at The College of New Jersey!  Our goal is to promote the development of students’ identities as good writers. We hope all TCNJ students can eventually see themselves as informed participants in the wide range of “conversations” that make up academic and public discourse.  The courses offered in the Writing Program as well as throughout the college’s writing intensive curriculum will help students develop the skills necessary for today’s world.

This website was designed to assist you.  If you are a student, you can get important details about the placement exam, meet the writing faculty, learn about courses, and access guides to help you become a more effective writer. 

If you are a faculty member, you’ll find practical resources whether you’re teaching WRI 102 or a writing intensive course—including information and links on rubrics, critical thinking, and other pedagogical issues.

Hopefully, this site will answer any question you may have about the Writing Intensive Curriculum and the Writing Program at The College of New Jersey. If not, please feel free to contact us at (609) 771-2864 or E-Mail us at writing@tcnj.edu.