On writing at Swarthmore:
Don't miss this humorous blog article on essay writing by Tim Burke:
Easily Distracted Beyond the Five-Paragraph Essay
Burke really captures that, despite the reputation for serious academic pursuits, Swat professors really don't take things that seriously and hardly expect perfection.
BTW, my daughter spent four years trying to pull off the "set 'em up, knock 'em down" essay" that Burke says is his favorite.