occidental college creative writing

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2016-2017 Catalog > Programs of Instruction > Writing & Rhetoric

Writing & Rhetoric

Occidental expects its graduates to demonstrate superior writing ability. The Writing Program prepares students in all disciplines to write effectively: to develop complex concepts clearly and fully, to organize essays and reports logically, and to maintain the conventions of standard written English. This standard of writing performance is upheld in all College courses.

To achieve this goal, the College emphasizes expository writing and research skills in the Core curriculum, in courses emphasizing the methodologies of various disciplines, and in the composition courses in the Writing & Rhetoric Department. The foundation of the College’s Writing Program is the first-year instructional program in Cultural Studies. First-year students take year-long, sequenced seminars that help students develop college-level writing strategies in rich disciplinary content to further their knowledge and communication of the topics they study.

In addition to the Core curriculum in writing, the Writing & Rhetoric Department offers courses to students who want to concentrate on the most effective strategies for writing in and out of the academy. These include WRD 201 , a class that centers on the processes and skills necessary to fine writing, and the College’s advanced writing courses, WRD 301 and WRD 401. Any student seeking individual instruction in writing or assistance with a particular paper will find support and advice available at the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), where Writing & Rhetoric professors work as writing specialists, and where student writing advisors collaborate with student writers. The Director of Writing Programs will gladly advise students of all resources available for developing their writing ability.

Proficiency in writing is a requirement for graduation.  

Students meet this requirement in two stages, the first of which is passing the first-stage Writing Proficiency evaluation in the Cultural Studies Program. Completion of the Cultural Studies courses does not by itself satisfy the writing requirement. An additional measure of writing proficiency is required; most recently this measure has been participation in a shared intellectual experience with required reading. Frosh are expected to pass the writing exercise that culminates the experience. Those who do not pass the Cultural Studies Writing evaluations will be asked to pass with a C or better a course in the Department of Writing & Rhetoric (201) or another writing course designated by the Director of Writing Programs in conjunction with the Director of the Core Program.

FIRST STAGE WRITING REQUIREMENT FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS

In order to fulfill the First Stage Writing Requirement, transfer students must: 1) have completed two writing courses (minimum six semester units) with specific writing instruction (not simply a course offered in an English department, nor any literature, creative writing, “writing intensive” courses) prior to transferring to the College; any courses not approved by the Registrar upon entrance must be appealed through the Writing Program; or 2) complete WRD 201 or WRD 401 after entering the College; or 3) submit a petition and portfolio before the senior year. Students must contact Writing Programs at the CAE to receive instructions.

Each student should receive, at the time of declaring the major, a description of the particular Second Stage Writing Requirement for the department. However, an overview of the department options follows:

FIRST STAGE WRITING PORTFOLIO OPTION FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS

Generally compiled over the sophomore and junior years, three papers are drawn from departmental work. Revisions are encouraged or may be required. One paper may be a retrospective analysis of the student’s writing. A reflective analysis of the portfolio may be required in addition to the three papers. Portfolios are read by more than one faculty member. The requirements for submitting a portfolio are available in the Writing Programs Office. The Writing Programs Department and the Director of the Core Program make every effort to work with an individual student’s portfolio submissions.

SECOND STAGE WRITING

Writing-Intensive Seminars:  Most departments require a single junior-year seminar that includes a considerable amount of writing. The final product is read by more than one professor. A grade of B- is usually required, depending on the department. Fulfillment of the requirement is met through additional coursework when the grade in the seminar is not satisfactory.

Writing across the Major:  Some departments have deemed all upper-division courses writing intensive. A few departments require more than one writing-intensive course in order to complete the Second Stage Writing Requirement in the major. An average grade of B- is generally required, depending on the department. See department chair for specifics.

CREATIVE WRITING

It is recommended that students interested in creative writing choose a major or minor that will provide them background in literature. Of special interest is the Writing Emphasis in the English and Comparative Literary Studies department. The College believes that it is essential to understand a tradition of literature and authorship in order to become a writer oneself. There are also offerings in various creative arts at the College that would support such an emphasis. Students interested in journalistic writing should consider the importance of intellectual background and training available in the different programs in the humanities, arts, sciences, and social sciences. Students also have the opportunity to take independent studies in creative writing, and in special cases, to elect Senior Year Honors Projects in writing.

Specific courses that address creative writing:

Additionally, every other year a Remsen Bird Visiting Artist gives classes and/or workshops on campus. Writers also are invited regularly to ECLS creative writing classes and to the Intercultural Community Center, events that are open to the campus at large. In the last few years the ECLS Department has sponsored several literary conferences with invited guests; the department also sponsors a literary contest with prizes for fiction, poetry, and short drama, and provides support for The Occidental Review, a literary magazine edited by students. Students also have the opportunity to work on the student newspaper, to join literary clubs, and to elect an internship course under the direction of a faculty member. Internships, arranged with the help of the Career Development Center, have included work at the Mark Taper Forum, the Getty Art Institute, the Huntington Library, the Minority Training Institute, and DreamWorks.

Students at Occidental also have the opportunity to hear distinguished writers on campus; guests in the last several years have included Alice Walker, bell hooks, Walter Mosley, Toni Morrison, Joyce Carol Oates, Sandra Cisneros, Amy Tan, Anna Deavere Smith, Maya Angelou, Gish offers opportunities to hear many other writers at Vroman Bookstore, Beyond Baroque, Skylight Books, and Dawson Books, among others.

Writing & Rhetoric Courses

Regular Faculty

Thomas Burkdall, chair

Director of the Center for Academic Excellence; Associate Professor, Writing & Rhetoric B.A., Pitzer College; M.A., Ph.D., UCLA

Julie Prebel

Assistant Professor, Writing & Rhetoric B.A., UC Berkeley; M.A., Cal State San Francisco; Ph.D., University of Washington

On Special Appointment

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Writing & Rhetoric B.A., M.A., Loyola Marymount University; Ph.D., Bowling Green State University

Robert Sipchen

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Writing & Rhetoric B.A., UC Santa Barbara

Lisa Tremain

NTT Assistant Professor, Writing & Rhetoric BA, Sonoma State University; MA, Felding Graduate University; MA, California State University, Northridge; PhD., University of California, Santa Barbara

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How to Write the Occidental College Essays 2023-2024

Occidental College is a private liberal arts college in Los Angeles, California. With over 40 majors and minors, Occidental (Oxy) highlights research as a major component of an undergraduate’s career, and offers extensive experiential learning opportunities in the greater L.A. area. 

Oxy is pretty selective and it’s consistently ranked in the top 40 liberal arts college in the country. Hoping to become an Oxy tiger? Writing strong supplemental essays can certainly give you a boost. Here’s our advice for this year’s supplements. 

Read these Occidental College essay examples to inspire your writing.

Oxy Supplemental Essay Prompts

Essay questions.

Prompt 1: Why are you applying to Occidental? Why do you think Occidental is the right place for you to pursue your interests? (150 – 200 words)

Prompt 2: Please answer one of the following questions (200 – 300 words):

Option A: Oxy’s central mission emphasizes the value of community amidst diversity. What do you value in a community and how do you see your perspectives and life experiences enhancing it?

Option b: briefly describe a current event or social movement that is affecting a place that is important to you. describe its significance to you and the future implications for that community. how do you anticipate an oxy education helping you better understand and respond to that event/movement, option c: research is an integral part of an oxy education. completing a senior comprehensive is a requirement of every oxy student and there are a myriad of opportunities for research throughout your four years. imagine you were just awarded one of our research grants for a project of your choice. what are you researching and why, short answer, what is the first song you would play for your roommates on move-in day (150 characters), why are you applying to occidental why do you think occidental is the right place for you to pursue your interests (150-200 words).

This is a fairly standard “ Why This College? ” essay, so it requires you to reflect on your academic goals and then do some research on how Occidental can support those goals. The college website is the best place to start; make sure to look into specific programs, courses, clubs, and other opportunities offered. 

Be sure to pick aspects of Oxy that are relatively unique and wouldn’t be found at other schools, and link back to why. If you’re too generic, admissions officers may not feel like you are genuinely interested in Occidental. 

Linking your personal interests to what Occidental offers will solidify your points. Do the resources you mention combine two of your academic passions? Is there a program that would be extremely beneficial for your ultimate career goals? 

Here’s an example of a hypothetical student and the resources they might mention in their essay:

A student who wants work in sustainable agriculture would be drawn to the Environmental Science concentration and Food Studies minor. The Food Studies minor is an “interdisciplinary, inherently politicized field of scholarship, practice, and art that examines the relationship between food and all aspects of the human experience. This encompasses culture and biology, individuals and society, global pathways and local contexts.”

This student hopes to one day run their own regenerative farm, so they especially look forward to joining FEAST (Food, Energy, And Sustainability Team), a student-run organic garden with chickens, to get hands-on experience. They also plan to take the course Sustainable Oxy: Urban Agriculture and Sustainable Landscape Practicum since food access and security is important to them; having grown up in an urban, low-income environment, they want their future farm to fund urban community gardens to bring fresh, nutritious food to the locals. 

Formatting-wise, your essay can begin with a short anecdote related to your academic interests. When did you first realize your academic passion? What are the thoughts or emotions you have as your participate in this activity/interest?

From there, you should explain what your academic goals are and why you have those goals. 

Finally, show how Occidental College can uniquely support your academic interests, mentioning specific courses, research opportunities, programs, and extracurriculars.

Please answer one of the following questions (200 – 300 words):

This prompt is essentially asking you one question ─ are you more research oriented or more passionate about social justice? Decide by thinking through your activities list and career direction.

Option A is the classic Diversity Essay , and is a great question to show off your values and beliefs. Before you write, remember that there are two parts to this question: what you value in a community and how you see yourself enhancing that community. With only 300 words, you likely can discuss only one thing you value in a community and one example of how you would enhance it. 

The first part of the prompt⁠—what you value in the community⁠—should be something genuine, and something that you could find at Occidental. Saying you value the competitive spirit of a Division I sports team is nice, but Occidental doesn’t have any Division I teams, so you might not seem like such a good fit for the school.

What you value in a community can vary pretty widely: 

• Being able to have your deeply-held religious beliefs respectfully challenged in a safe environment.
• Multiculturalism and diversity of perspectives, whether political, social, etc. 
• Collaboration and bouncing ideas off of each other
• Supporting the more vulnerable members of the community
• Advocating for change as a collective force

Once you’ve chosen what it is you value in a community, think about how you can pursue those at Occidental. 

• Someone who values religion and multi-faith literacy might want to be involved in one of Oxy’s nine religious groups.
• Those who value multiculturalism might want to live in Pauley Hall, a themed living community that aims to promote diversity and equip its residents to thrive in a globalized world. 

After you’ve figured out your answer to those first two questions, you need to turn to thinking about how your perspectives and experiences would enhance the community. Show what role you might play on Oxy’s campus.

Here are some examples of this:

• Throughout high school, maybe you were an active member of a religious group that frequently hosted multi-faith discussions and events. You felt like these events were safe places for attendees to dissect their deeply-held beliefs, and respectfully present contrasting perspectives. You want to bring this open-mindedness to Oxy, especially when it comes to religious life.
• Perhaps you grew up in a multicultural home, as your parents are from different countries. This allowed you to experience two very different cultures and meet people from around the world. You want to share the food and customs from those cultures, and promote diversity at Oxy.

Remember that this essay is not only about community, but how you interact with a community. Once you’ve figured out what you value in a community, think about how you can bring your experiences to a similar community at Occidental and enhance it.

For any of the options, introduce your essay with a brief anecdote that explains the what and why of your interest. Here is an example for Option C:

The 2008 financial crisis hit my family hard. After both my parents lost their jobs, my family had to make sacrifices to keep a roof over our heads. My meals came to consist of rice and beans and beans and rice, and on Sundays bologna with pasta. My frequent grumbling stomach was the one lifestyle adjustment I had trouble powering through, and so I learned about food insecurity. I would like to research solutions to make healthy food more accessible to all, so others can stay hungry for knowledge rather than protein.

Beyond the introduction is where the responses to each option will differ. Though Options B and C are both “Why X Interest” essays, Option C is about an academic research interest which you would take to Oxy, whereas Option B is asking for what social justice direction you would bring to campus.

Option B is about connecting yourself to the bigger picture after you have described a current event or social movement and why it is important to you. Make sure that you have a deep, genuine connection to the movement you write about ─ passion will make your message more convincing. Explain what change for good your chosen movement could bring about and why others should care about it like you. Conclude the essay by describing the “future implications” of the movement, not only in the place you have chosen, but also for Oxy. How could Oxy’s resources help the movement make a larger impact? Here is part of an example essay by a student with a Uyghur background about the Uyghur human rights movement:

The movement for Uyghur human rights is so crucial to me because the world is so silent. Xinjiang may be far away, but it is close to my heart ─ it is where my grandparents live, where I have fond memories of mutton rice and open fields and Eid. It is an interconnected place, where the Silk Road was once traveled and where humanity’s destiny lies today. If the world does not stand up for human rights, the human mosaic will lose one more piece, and more pieces will fall. The Uyghur human rights movement, and the advocacy work I have done with the Uyghur Human Rights Project, are significant because they are some of the only voices we have to make our voices heard on the world stage.

Oxy can help amplify our voices through its exceptional Kahane United Nations Program, which could allow me to intern at the UNHCR. Coupled with the interdisciplinary Diplomacy and World Affairs major, I would be empowered to influence the world’s decision makers of the need to support justice for the Uyghurs. From Professor Chase’s lectures on human rights and the transnational Muslim world to the campus’s uplifting activist culture, Oxy has unique resources and opportunities which would make the future of the Uyghur human rights movement much brighter.

Answering Option C is straightforward ─ explain what project you would like to take on for your senior “comp” as well as what research opportunities you would take advantage of in one of the departments listed in the prompt. Take your time to look into past senior comps and research opportunities, so you can pitch a plan for how you would utilize specific Oxy resources ─ professors, grants, classes, and access to LA ─ for your own research. For example, the student interested in food insecurity could talk about how they want to create rooftop gardens as their senior comp, in addition to researching ways to increase healthy donations to food banks at the Urban & Environmental Policy Institute. 

Short Answer 

This question is as simple and straightforward as it seems—what song would you play for your roommates? On the application, this is a one line answer; simply tell your readers what song it is. If you want to give a short explanation, that’s totally fine too, as you have up to 150 characters. Those extra characters would actually be a great opportunity to share more of your personality.

Again, avoid overthinking this answer and forcing something more “intellectual” or classical (unless you actually love classical music, which is totally cool to list!). Be as genuine with your answer as possible, though try to list a song that says something about you, rather than just listing whatever’s currently on the radio.

The song can be something that holds some meaning to you, or simply a song you really enjoy listening to. Either is acceptable! 

Here are some good examples:

• Danzón No.2 by Márquez (my bandmates and I couldn’t stop swaying to the catchy theme during rehearsal)
• Runaway (U&I) by Galantis (perfect for an impromptu dance party)
• Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson (super chill song to make moving in less stressful; I also make killer banana pancakes)

Make sure to include both the name of the song and the artist. 

Where to Get Your Occidental College Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Oxy essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays. 

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

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2016-2017 Catalog

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• Academic Information
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• Adding, Dropping, and Withdrawing from Classes
• Course Load (full-time, part-time, and overloads)
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• Course Credit by Examination
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• Transfer Credit
• Advanced Placement Credit and International Baccalaureate Course Credit
• Summer Study at Other Institutions
• Classification of Students
• FIRST STAGE WRITING REQUIREMENT FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS
• FIRST STAGE WRITING PORTFOLIO OPTION FOR TRANSFER STUDENTS
• Writing-Intensive Seminars:
• Writing Across the Major:

Creative Writing:

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2016-2017 Catalog > Academic Policies > Writing Program > SECOND STAGE WRITING > Creative Writing:

It is recommended that students interested in creative writing choose a major or minor that will provide them background in literature. Of special interest is the Writing Emphasis in the English and Comparative Literary Studies department. The College believes that it is essential to understand a tradition of literature and authorship in order to become a writer oneself. There are also offerings in various creative arts at the College that would support such an emphasis. Students interested in journalistic writing should consider the importance of intellectual background and training available in the different programs in the humanities, arts, sciences, and social sciences. Students also have the opportunity to take independent studies in creative writing, and in special cases, to elect Senior Year Honors Projects in writing. Specific courses that address creative writing include ENGL 380 (Creative Writing), WRD 286 (Principles of Journalism II), WRD 301 (Creative Non-Fiction), WRD 401 (Writing Across the Curriculum), FREN 343 (Theory and Practice of Translation), THEA 201 (Alternative Voices in American Theater), and THEA 380 (Playwriting). Writers also are invited regularly to English creative writing classes and to the Intercultural Community Center, events that are open to the campus at large.

Additionally, every other year a Remsen Bird Visiting Artist gives classes and/or workshops on campus. In the last few years the English Department has sponsored several literary Honors Projects in writing. 

In the last few years the English Department has sponsored several literary conferences with invited guests; the department also sponsors a literary contest with prizes for fiction, poetry, and short drama, and provides support for The Occidental Review, a literary magazine edited by students. Students also have the opportunity to work on the student newspaper, to join literary clubs, and to elect an internship course under the direction of a faculty member. Internships, arranged with the help of the Career Development Center, have included work at the Mark Taper Forum, the Getty Art Institute, the Huntington Library, the Minority Training Institute, and Dreamworks.

Students at Occidental also have the opportunity to hear distinguished writers on campus; guests in the last several years have included Alice Walker, bell hooks, Walter Mosley,Toni Morrison, Joyce Carol Oates, Sandra Cisneros, Amy Tan, Anna Deavere Smith, Maya Angelou, and Gish Jen. The Los Angeles area offers opportunities to hear many other writers at Vroman Bookstore, Beyond Baroque, Skylight Books, and Dawson Books, among others. 

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SECOND STAGE WRITING

2024-2025 Catalog

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2024-2025 Catalog > Programs of Instruction > Interdisciplinary Writing > Overview

Writing classes provide students with the intellectual and technical frameworks that enable them to approach course materials and disciplines critically. Writing well is not a skill-set to be mastered, but an intricate interaction of cognitive and rhetorical processes performed for a variety of purposes, in multiple circumstances, and for diverse audiences. This minor allows students to practice these processes in a range of writing situations, and exposes students to comparative approaches to modes of writing: prose, creative nonfiction, playwriting, poetry, journalism, screenwriting, professional writing, and multimedia.

The interdisciplinary approach of this minor helps students develop strong writing skills, techniques, and practices through varied pedagogical styles and methods. A main benefit of this minor is that students will have opportunities to learn from faculty in different disciplines, gaining knowledge of those disciplines while writing in various genres. These courses provide a strong writing foundation for students interested in any number of academic and career fields.

College Writing Program

Occidental College

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The College Writing Program seeks to equip students for academic success and postgraduate careers that require knowledge of advanced communication and writing skills. We provide instruction in composition theory and practice and in rhetoric across diverse traditions. Our courses teach students about the forms of writing they are likely to encounter, provide opportunities for students to rethink and refine their writing processes and habits, and teach students strategies or techniques for adapting their writing styles to specific audiences, disciplines, and genres. Our courses also span a range of genres in composition and rhetoric, including cultural rhetorics, visual rhetorics, creative nonfiction, civic writing, and journalism. Through our interdisciplinary curriculum, our courses ask students to examine writing and rhetoric as embedded in culture and to consider the relations among writing, rhetoric, identity, literacy, and power. Our program is committed to enacting the college's mission through our curricular focus on diversity and equity.

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Requirements

Important note.

The requirements below apply to those students with a 2023-2024 catalog year. Students are required by college policy to follow the major (and minor) requirements found in the catalog in effect at the time they declared their first major. To find your catalog year, please visit your Grades and Academic Records found in myOxy and access the catalog that matches your catalog year.

Interdisciplinary Writing

Writing classes provide students with the intellectual and technical frameworks that enable them to approach course materials and disciplines critically. Writing well is not a skill-set to be mastered, but an intricate interaction of cognitive and rhetorical processes performed for a variety of purposes, in multiple circumstances, and for diverse audiences. This minor allows students to practice these processes in a range of writing situations, and exposes students to comparative approaches to modes of writing: prose, creative nonfiction, playwriting, poetry, journalism, screenwriting, professional writing, and multimedia.

The interdisciplinary approach of this minor helps students develop strong writing skills, techniques, and practices through varied pedagogical styles and methods. A main benefit of this minor is that students will have opportunities to learn from faculty in different disciplines, gaining knowledge of those disciplines while writing in various genres. These courses provide a strong writing foundation for students interested in any number of academic and career fields.

The Interdisciplinary Writing minor is a five-course program consisting of one required 200-level core class ( WRD 295 ) and four electives, described as follows. 

Note:  No more than three courses from one department can be counted towards the minor.

Required Course

The below courses are offered regularly in the Interdisciplinary minor, though some may not be offered every year. Check Course Counts for the available courses each semester.

Students may also apply MAC 250  as an elective for the Interdisciplinary Writing minor if they have enrolled in the "The Video Essay" section of the course.

Students may also apply CTSJ 395 as an elective for the Interdisciplinary Writing minor if they have enrolled in the "Writing Trauma" section of the course.

Transfer Credit Policies

Courses approved for transfer by the appropriate department or program will be considered to apply toward the Interdisciplinary Writing minor. Students should reference the Transfer Credit  section for details.

Ground Floor

Julie Prebel Associate Professor, American Studies and Writing & Rhetoric; Director of Writing Center & Programs [email protected] Phone: (323) 259-1307

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