Learning, thinking, writing
In study after study, employers say written communication is one of the most important skills they look for in new hires. The rhetoric and composition courses offered by the Writing Excellence program emphasize writing as learning and a means for honing critical thinking skills.
Writing is not a skill separate from thinking and learning but at the very heart of both.
Writing Intensive courses
To help develop your writing competency, all students are required to take two writing intensive courses while at Eckerd. Writing Intensive courses are also available in many majors, and are meant to help students learn the craft of writing in different disciplines. No matter what field you go into, being able to communicate with teammates and supervisors is key to thriving at work.
Writing Excellence award winners
Each year, we recognize outstanding examples of writing competency with the George P.E. Meese Writing Excellence award. These examples, which are bound and housed in the library, reflect exceptional student writing from a range of disciplines.
The 2025 Writing Excellence award winners:
- Reese White
- Jeffrey Hughes
- Claudia Knickrehm
Meet the faculty
Zachary Dobbins
Associate Professor of Rhetoric
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin
dobbinzw@eckerd.edu
Suzan Harrison
Professor of Rhetoric
Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
harrisms@eckerd.edu
Erika Spohrer
Associate Professor of Rhetoric
Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
spohreea@eckerd.edu
Emeriti
William Kelly ’80
Professor Emeritus of Rhetoric
