Resources for Students

These pages offer resources to help you with your writing, whether you are trying to begin producing a paper, or wish to revise and edit what you've already written, or would like to meet with a tutor in the Writing Center.  

If you are a student in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh, you are required to take three Writing or Writing-Intensive courses (often called W-courses) before graduation:

1. Seminar in Composition (EngCmp 0200) or its equivalent;
2. a W-course of your choice;
3. a W-course in your major.

These courses are intended to help you improve your writing and to demonstrate how writing can develop your understanding of the subject under study.  Teachers of W-courses generally ask you to write on several occasions during the semester, and they are expected to give you the opportunity to revise at least one of your assignments.

If you produce an accomplished piece of writing in one of your courses, you may make an online submission to the Ossip College Writing Awards or the Composition Program Writing Awards.  Winners of these contests receive cash prizes and are invited to a reception to receive their award.