UMass Boston

All portfolios must include a 1,500 word or longer challenge essay in response to a set of readings and prompt that are provided when they register for the WPE.

All portfolios must include three course papers:

• • Two of the course papers must be 750 words or longer.
  • One of the papers must be 1,250 words or longer. 
  • At least one paper must be from a 200-level or higher course.
  • All papers must work with sources. With advance approval, one paper may be based on observation (such as a lab report or case study). For approval, send candidate papers to writing.proficiency@umb.edu.
  • All papers should be analytical, use evidence, and present an argument that supports a position, point of view, or answer to a question.

All students must complete the confirmation form, which includes an honesty statement. Students registered for the WPE will receive the confirmation form link before the submission deadline.

NOT REQUIRED: Signed certification forms, or certification statements from professors. However, WPE staff may selectively authenticate papers by contacting instructors. 

Any student who is in their first semester at UMB is allowed to submit only two course papers, one 1,250+ words and one 750+ words in length, at least one of which is from a 200-level or higher course. 

All students are required to submit the new, 1500-word challenge essay. 

Students are strongly encouraged to submit papers from two different courses, but both course papers may be from an intermediate seminar if there is no other option. 

Students who previously submitted to EWRAP may submit the same course papers for the WPE. However, we encourage them to submit additional papers if possible to better represent their current writing abilities.