This page contains content from the 2007–08 academic year. For current information, visit the Harvard Extension School website at www.extension.harvard.edu.
Enrolling in Expository Writing
My EXPO E-25 instructor, Thomas Underwood, taught me more than just how to think critically and write well. He impressed upon me Harvard’s high standards for academic ethics and personal integrity.
—Amit Samuel, ALB ’05
A Harvard course in expository writing is required for admission. You should take either of the following:
- EXPO E-25 at the Extension School and earn with a C– or higher
- EXPO S-20 at Harvard Summer School and earn a B– or higher
If you complete EXPO E-25 with at least a B– you may count it as one of the three courses required for admission.
These courses are modeled after expository writing at Harvard College and prepare you for academic writing tasks in future courses. Each counts toward the expository writing degree requirement.
Register early: These courses have limited enrollment and fill quickly, so we recommend enrolling online during the first week of registration.
Placement Test
Before or after registering for EXPO E-25, you need to take the test of critical reading and writing skills, available online. The timed one-hour test has a reading comprehension section with multiple-choice questions and a writing section with an essay question. No preparation is necessary; most students pass the exam. See more in Placement Tests.
You can also take EXPO E-15 instead of the placement test. If you earn a B– you may register for EXPO E-25 the following term without taking the placement test. EXPO E-15 counts toward the expository writing degree requirement and, with a grade of B– or higher, one of the three prerequisite courses required for admission.
EXPO S-20 requires an in-class placement exam on the first day of class.
Nonnative speakers. If English is not your native language, you are also required to demonstrate English language proficiency for EXPO E-15 and EXPO S-25.
