Students are required to 1) pass a writing rich (WR) course with a C- or better and 2) complete a writing portfolio to be reviewed by faculty after the third term, and no later than the seventh week of the sixth term. Students who fail to turn in a portfolio by the deadline will not be allowed to register for the next term until the portfolio is reviewed. Students entering with AP scores of 5 or IB scores of 7 on English language or literature exams are not required to take a WR course but must submit a portfolio.

The portfolio should include no fewer than three or more than five papers written for Carleton courses that meet the following criteria:

1. Papers from at least two of the four curricular divisions (arts and literature, humanities, social sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences);
2. At least one paper from the WR course (except for students exempted from the WR course);
3. At least one paper that reports on something observed (for example, field notes for geology or sociology, a laboratory report, a description of art or music, etc.);
4. At least one paper that demonstrates complex information;
5. At least one paper that provides interpretation (of data, a text, a performance, etc.);
6. At least one paper that demonstrates ability to identify and effectively use appropriate outside sources, properly documented;
7. At least one paper that shows ability to articulate and support a thesis-driven argument;
8. In all papers, evidence of effective control of standard American English.

The total number of double-spaced pages in the entire portfolio should not be fewer than 10 or more than 30. Some papers will exhibit several of these characteristics.The portfolio is introduced by a reflective paper which details the ways in which the portfolio represents the student submitting it, the student's work, and the criteria listed above.

Faculty and staff members review portfolios and rate them as either exemplary, passing, or in need of more work.