Concerning writing requirements in upper-division courses, I have two points.

First, the recent PLUS recommendations do not involve creating a raft of courses for students to take outside of courses they would take anyway. Mostly what is involved is setting standards for major and gen ed courses that already include writing — specifying, for example, what percent of your grade writing should minimally count for and what kind of help should be provided. The intent is to enhance student opportunities within the existing curriculum.

Second, the need for a wider and more consistent approach to writing in the major does not pertain to mechanics. Grasp of such things as complete sentences, agreement or proper use of punctuation should be acquired in high school, or at the latest by the time students come out of English 103. So why add any further requirements?

Because competence in the basic mechanics of writing is not the same thing as effective written communication. Good writing is expressive: articulate, concise and forceful. No one class can magically give students verbal fluency; it can only be acquired by continued practice in writing (also reading and speaking).

Four years is hardly enough.