2025-26 Faculty
Director
Wendy Schor-Haim (Senior Lecturer in English)
Associate Director
Cecelia Lie-Spahn (Lecturer in English; Director, First-Year Writing Workshop; Associate Director, First-Year Writing Workshop Program)
Senior Lecturers
Benjamin Breyer
Vrinda Condillac (Interim Associate Director, First-Year Writing Program)
Alexandra Watson (Associate Director, Writing Fellows Program)
Lecturers
Meredith Benjamin
Andrew Lynn
Penelope Meyers Usher
Duygu Oya Ula
Term Assistant Professor
Nathan Gorelick (Term Assistant Professor in English)
Term Lecturers
Quincy Jones
Francesca Ochoa
Michael Shelichach
Elizabeth Weybright
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Andrew Ragni
Adjunct Associates
Sam Davis
Adjunct Lecturers
Emily Austin
Every Barnard first-year student is required to take a First-Year Writing course during their first or second semester at Barnard.
Transfer students who did not pass a satisfactory course at their previous institution are not required to take First-Year Writing, but must take ENGL BC3103 THE ART OF THE ESSAY or ENGL BC3104 THE ART OF THE ESSAY or a 3-point literature course (not a creative writing course) from the Barnard English department offerings.
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First-Year Writing: Critical Conversations
First-Year Writing Workshop
First-Year Writing: Critical Conversations
First-Year Writing (FYW) courses invite students into the vibrant scholarly life of the college. Working in small, discussion-based seminar classes over the course of one semester, we read challenging literary texts and critical scholarship, helping students to develop fundamental skills in analysis and academic writing that allow them to take their place in vitally important scholarly conversations. Students may choose from a variety of special topics that focus on a particular literary tradition, theme, or phenomenon (see course descriptions for details).
A “critical conversation” is a conversation about ideas. It is sophisticated and thoughtful rather than one-sided and simplistic; it’s not about finding one right answer but rather about closely analyzing all of the evidence at hand and discovering something meaningful. By communicating what you discover clearly and cogently, you add to the broader scholarly conversation. When engaged in a critical conversation with other scholars, you consider their ideas in ways that help you develop your own thinking, rather than merely agreeing or disagreeing with what others have to say. The critical reading, discussion, and academic writing skills we focus on in First-Year Writing provide a foundation that crosses disciplinary boundaries and will help you in all of your courses. Please go to https://firstyear.barnard.edu/fyw/course-listings for full course titles and descriptions.
FYWB BC1001 FIRST-YEAR WRITING AT BARNARD. 3.00 points.
First-Year Writing (FYW) courses invite students into the vibrant scholarly life of the college. Working in small, discussion-based seminar classes over the course of one semester, we read challenging literary texts and critical scholarship, helping students to develop fundamental skills in analysis and academic writing that allow them to take their place in vitally important scholarly conversations. Students may choose from a variety of special topics that focus on a particular literary tradition, theme, or phenomenon. Please see https://firstyear.barnard.edu/fyw/course-listings for full course descriptions.
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Fall 2025: FYWB BC1001
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| Course Number | Section/Call Number | Times/Location | Instructor | Points | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FYWB 1001 | 001/01031 | M W 10:10am - 11:25am 404 Barnard Hall |
Andrew Lynn | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 002/01032 | T Th 10:10am - 11:25am 405 Barnard Hall |
Andrew Lynn | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 006/01035 | T Th 1:10pm - 2:25pm 403 Barnard Hall |
Wendy Schor-Haim | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 007/01036 | T Th 1:10pm - 2:25pm 202 Milbank Hall |
Quincy Jones | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 008/01037 | T Th 5:40pm - 6:55pm 403 Barnard Hall |
Quincy Jones | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 009/01038 | M W 10:10am - 11:25am 407 Barnard Hall |
Duygu Ula | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 010/01039 | M W 11:40am - 12:55pm 404 Barnard Hall |
Duygu Ula | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 011/01040 | M W 1:10pm - 2:25pm 404 Barnard Hall |
Michael Shelichach | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 012/01041 | M W 6:10pm - 7:25pm 403 Barnard Hall |
Michael Shelichach | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 013/01042 | T Th 11:40am - 12:55pm 407 Barnard Hall |
Elizabeth Weybright | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 014/01043 | T Th 2:40pm - 3:55pm 223 Milbank Hall |
Elizabeth Weybright | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 015/01044 | T Th 10:10am - 11:25am 404 Barnard Hall |
Nathan Gorelick | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 016/01045 | T Th 11:40am - 12:55pm 403 Barnard Hall |
Nathan Gorelick | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 017/01046 | M W 8:40am - 9:55am 403 Barnard Hall |
Benjamin Breyer | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 018/01047 | M W 10:10am - 11:25am 227 Milbank Hall |
Benjamin Breyer | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 019/01048 | M W 11:40am - 12:55pm 407 Barnard Hall |
Andrew Ragni | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 020/01049 | M W 1:10pm - 2:25pm 407 Barnard Hall |
Andrew Ragni | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 021/01050 | T Th 4:10pm - 5:25pm 403 Barnard Hall |
Alexandra Watson | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 022/01059 | T Th 1:10pm - 2:25pm 407 Barnard Hall |
Emily Austin | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 023/01060 | T Th 2:40pm - 3:55pm 407 Barnard Hall |
Emily Austin | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 024/01061 | M W 4:10pm - 5:25pm 406 Barnard Hall |
Samuel Davis | 3.00 | 13/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 025/01063 | M W 1:10pm - 2:25pm 403 Barnard Hall |
Samuel Davis | 3.00 | 15/15 |
| FYWB 1001 | 026/01095 | M W 10:10am - 11:25am 403 Barnard Hall |
Penelope Usher | 3.00 | 15/15 |
First-Year Writing Workshop
First-Year Writing (FYW) Workshop is a four-credit course designed for students who feel they would benefit from extra preparation for the critical reading and writing that you will do at Barnard. FYW and FYW Workshop are equally rigorous -- both courses have the same critical reading and writing goals, and both courses satisfy your First-Year Writing requirement. FYW Workshop, however, meets 3 days per week instead of 2; it is worth 4 credits instead of 3; and the class sizes are smaller. NOTE: FYW Workshop is only offered in the Fall (not in the Spring). Please go to https://firstyear.barnard.edu/fyw/course-listings for full course titles and descriptions.
Read about students' experiences in FYW Workshop here.
FYWB BC1002 FIRST-YEAR WRITING WORKSHOP. 4.00 points.
First-Year Writing (FYW) Workshop is a four-credit course designed for students who feel they would benefit from extra preparation for the critical reading and writing that you will do at Barnard. FYW and FYW Workshop are equally rigorous -- both courses have the same critical reading and writing goals, and both courses satisfy your First-Year Writing requirement. FYW Workshop, however, meets 3 days per week instead of 2; it is worth 4 credits instead of 3; and the class sizes are smaller. FYW Workshop is only offered in the fall semester (not in the spring semester). Students who are interested in one of the limited number of spaces in FYW Workshop should select "First-Year Writing Workshop" on the First-Year Experience Course Request Form and fill out the accompanying FYW Workshop Questionnaire (the First-Year Dean's Office will email you the form in mid-June). The FYW Workshop Questionnaire is required in order to be considered for FYW Workshop. See courses here
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Fall 2025: FYWB BC1002
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| Course Number | Section/Call Number | Times/Location | Instructor | Points | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FYWB 1002 | 001/01051 | T Th F 11:40am - 12:55pm 404 Barnard Hall |
Francesca Austin Ochoa | 4.00 | 11/12 |
| FYWB 1002 | 002/01052 | T Th F 1:10pm - 2:25pm 404 Barnard Hall |
Francesca Austin Ochoa | 4.00 | 12/12 |
| FYWB 1002 | 003/01053 | M W F 2:40pm - 3:55pm 407 Barnard Hall |
Penelope Usher | 4.00 | 12/12 |
| FYWB 1002 | 004/01054 | M W F 11:40am - 12:55pm 403 Barnard Hall |
Vrinda Condillac | 4.00 | 12/12 |