College composition is an introductory course in collegiate writing that most students have to take. College composition introduces critical thinking and basic strategies of academic writing. This introductory course teaches students to refine topics, develop and support ideas, research, cite references, edit for style and word usage and write to an audience. Students will learn exposition and argument and provide a completely researched essay at the term's end.
Students pursuing degrees in liberal arts or the humanities may have to take courses in English literature. Courses in English literature look at English works from the Anglo-Saxon period to the present, with emphasis on ideas and characteristics presented in individual literary movements. English literature courses teach students to comprehend and critically examine different literary trends and styles.
Students interested in becoming authors or essayists may take creative writing courses that introduce the fundamentals of imaginative writing. Students must write creatively in forms that may include poetry, fiction, drama and essays. Professors might place an emphasis on writing short and long fiction. Creative writing courses develop voice, technique, style and the elements of fiction writing.
Students looking to go into careers of information technology, engineering or even finance must take technical writing courses. The goal of technical writing is to transcribe highly technical terms from the aforementioned industries into language the general public can comprehend. Courses in technical writing train students to write detailed reports and documents with concise language. Students learn specific skills in voice, tone, editing, graphics and content formatting.