A study of the reading writing connection in a university Writing Program

A study was initiated in order to gauge the reading levels of students enrolled in a university Freshman Writing Program (FWP). This study was part of the review process undertaken by the Core Curriculum Review Committee. The purposes of the study were to build a profile of students' reading levels to determine the effect of the required Core Curriculum on their reading skills, and to compare the students' reading levels with the instructors' perceptions of those students' performance in their writing classes. The study was conducted over a period of four semesters. The study looked at the reading levels of freshmen students enrolled in writing courses, as well as at the reading levels of other students who were enrolled in the Core Seminar course. A comparison was made between the students' reading levels and their performance in their writing classes. The findings suggest that students who scored high on the reading test were those who were considered to be good writers by their instructors.