Middlebury

Writing Program

The Writing Program inspires critical and creative thinking about language, story, argument and intercultural communication. Our courses privilege a student-centered workshop approach that is inquiry-based.  

How do I structure a college essay?

Most college papers need a thesis that argues a point that can be proven or demonstrated with evidence in the paper. Use this worksheet to help see if  the paper has the points, evidence, and analysis to prove the thesis: Structure of an Essay.

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Writing Center
structure

Making appointments with Writing Faculty

To Meet With Writing Program Faculty and staff, you'll want to plan ahead when possible and schedule appointments with us via our computer based scheduling system, go/appt. The student workers or faculty or staff in the Center for Teaching, Learning and Research (CTLR) can show you how to do this, or you can use the link above. Scheduling usually happens a few days in advance, but sometimes students find last minute openings.

Midterm Evaluation

1) What is your overall impression of this class so far?
2) What aspects of this class work (especially) well for you?
3) What does not work so well?
4) On a scale from 1-5 (with 5 being the highest), how
would you rank:

a) the amount of what you have learned so far
b) how you feel integrated into the class/ opportunities 
to contribute
c) clearness of instructor's explanations
d) effectiveness of teaching/ learning
e) the relevance/ interest in our discussions
f) how much you enjoy being in this class

Grading Criteria for Midterm Portfolio

Adapted from Donald M. Murray, Learning by Teaching

MATERIAL

Is there an abundance of information?
Is it specific? Is it accurate? Is it honest?  
Is it used effectively to develop and document what the writer has to say?

FOCUS

Has the writer found his or her subject?
Has the writer made the subject worth reading about?
Is the writing focused on the subject?
Is the subject limited - developed and completed?
Are the reader's questions answered?
Does the piece have a meaning?

The Paul W. Ward '25 Memorial Prize

 

Ward Prize Certificate

 

 

The Paul W. Ward '25 Memorial Prize competition recognizes annually those first-year students who are judged by the faculty to have produced outstanding essays in writing classes during that academic year.