debryc

I second the recommendation to go by PROFESSOR and not subject area. A good professor can make any topic fascinating, especially because professors teach freshman seminars in areas they are particularly interested in. I LOVED my freshman seminar with Professor Eric Gregory, "Globalization and the Good Samaritan" and he's now writing a book by the same title! Too bad he's on sabbatical next year... the guy's brilliant.

Choose your writing seminar in the same way, by Professor. If you like an eccentric instructor who's a little easier on grading and gives excellent critiques, consider Professor Stephen Donatelli. Fascinating person and a great writer. A writing seminar, however, might be easier if you already have some background knowledge in the subject. You need to be interested in the subject enough to write >30 pages. I had friends who took "Antarctica" and were quite ready to drown the entire continent by the end of the semester. Writing seminars are more hit and miss though.

On another note, if you want to think ahead, you might want to choose a freshman seminar that fulfills a distribution requirement you might not otherwise fill as easily. For example, if you're premed, you might consider taking a seminar that is not QR or ST and instead delve into LA, HA, SA, EC, or EM.

By the way, Appiah should be excellent.