{"id":918,"date":"2024-05-21T14:34:56","date_gmt":"2024-05-21T14:34:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/?page_id=918"},"modified":"2026-01-08T16:03:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T16:03:45","slug":"first-year-writing-seminar","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/first-year-writing-seminar\/","title":{"rendered":"The First-Year Writing Seminar"},"content":{"rendered":"<!-- Inserted by Dropdownizer plugin. Forces video embeds contained in dropdowns to have a size --><style>.dropdownizer__dropdown iframe { width: 100% !important; height: 100% !important; }<\/style>\n<p>From the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vassar.edu\/about#mission\">Vassar College Mission<\/a>: \u201cThe College makes possible an education that promotes analytical, informed, and independent thinking and sound judgment; encourages articulate expression; and nurtures intellectual curiosity, creativity, respectful debate and engaged citizenship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The First-Year Writing Seminar (FYWS) introduces students to critical reading practices and argument-based writing processes. These courses from across Vassar\u2019s curriculum challenge students to enter sophisticated conversations by asserting compelling claims and supporting those claims through an organized presentation of evidence. Each First-Year Writing Seminar is built around a rich topic, giving students a complex set of readings, questions, and debates to consider as they learn to engage with the ideas of others and articulate their positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns  cols-3 no-wrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full imageLink--feature\"><a href=\"\/ltrc\/first-year-writing-seminar\/shared-learning-outcomes\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0237-19-05-ja-center-vassar494-1x1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Two people sitting at a table looking at a laptop.\" class=\"wp-image-1244\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0237-19-05-ja-center-vassar494-1x1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0237-19-05-ja-center-vassar494-1x1-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0237-19-05-ja-center-vassar494-1x1-1-220x220.jpg 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/first-year-writing-seminar\/shared-learning-outcomes\/\">Shared Learning Outcomes<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full imageLink--feature\"><a href=\"\/ltrc\/first-year-writing-seminar\/values-and-methods\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/writing-in-book.jpg\" alt=\"Hand holding a pen writing in a book.\" class=\"wp-image-1246\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/writing-in-book.jpg 300w, https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/writing-in-book-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/writing-in-book-220x220.jpg 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/first-year-writing-seminar\/values-and-methods\/\">Values and Methods<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full imageLink--feature\"><a href=\"\/ltrc\/first-year-writing-seminar\/workshops-and-events\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0132_16_10_KR_0002-1x1-1.jpg\" alt=\"People sitting around a table with a variety of books and papers.\" class=\"wp-image-1245\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0132_16_10_KR_0002-1x1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0132_16_10_KR_0002-1x1-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0132_16_10_KR_0002-1x1-1-220x220.jpg 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/first-year-writing-seminar\/workshops-and-events\/\">Workshops and Events<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns cols-3 no-wrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full imageLink--feature\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ebookcentral.proquest.com\/lib\/vcl\/detail.action?pq-origsite=primo&amp;docID=31597372\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Craft-of-Research.jpg\" alt=\"Bookcover for &quot;The Craft of Research&quot;, Fifth Edition.\" class=\"wp-image-1247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Craft-of-Research.jpg 300w, https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Craft-of-Research-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/Craft-of-Research-220x220.jpg 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full imageLink--feature\"><a href=\"https:\/\/library.vassar.edu\/research\/instruction\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0017_17_01_JA_1182-1x1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Thompson Memorial Library interior showing green patterned chairs and couches, rows of bookshelves including the 2nd story.\" class=\"wp-image-1248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0017_17_01_JA_1182-1x1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0017_17_01_JA_1182-1x1-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0017_17_01_JA_1182-1x1-1-220x220.jpg 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/library.vassar.edu\/research\/instruction?_gl=1*1nylon1*_ga*MTk1NzY2MTg3Mi4xNjg5MDkxMzg2*_ga_GK60KNYSK7*MTc0MTE4Njk2Ni4xMDQ4LjEuMTc0MTE5MjAzMy42MC4wLjA.\">Library Partnerships<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full imageLink--feature\"><a href=\"\/ltrc\/writing-center\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0237-19-05-ja-center-vassar-489-1x1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Students sitting in the Writing Center working at tables next to each other with large windows in the background.\" class=\"wp-image-1250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0237-19-05-ja-center-vassar-489-1x1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0237-19-05-ja-center-vassar-489-1x1-1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/03\/0237-19-05-ja-center-vassar-489-1x1-1-220x220.jpg 220w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/writing-center\/\">The Writing Center<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information about the First-Year Writing Seminar Program, please contact Matthew Schultz, Director of First-Year Writing and The Writing Center at <a href=\"mailto:maschultz@vassar.edu\">maschultz@vassar.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\n\/* .no-wrap { white-space: nowrap; word-break: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; } *\/\n\t.imageLink--feature figcaption a {\n\n    padding: 1em;\n}\n.wp-block-image :where(figcaption) {\n   margin-bottom: 0;\n}\n<\/style>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From the Vassar College Mission: \u201cThe College makes possible an education that promotes analytical, informed, and independent thinking and sound judgment; encourages articulate expression; and nurtures intellectual curiosity, creativity, respectful debate and engaged citizenship.\u201d The First-Year Writing Seminar (FYWS) introduces students to critical reading practices and argument-based writing processes. These courses from across Vassar\u2019s curriculum [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":917,"parent":0,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-918","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=918"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/918\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1592,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/918\/revisions\/1592"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/ltrc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}