The study included students from 38 of the College’s 41 concentrations. Sommers solicited participants by mailing a letter to all members of the class of 2001 early in their first year, inviting their participation. Sommers says she had expected only about 100 students to respond, but was delighted at the much higher number who did reply.
Sommers encouraged participation by providing small gifts, including coupons for free pizza and gift certificates to Amazon.com.
The study was made possible through a grant from the Mellon Foundation and from extra University funds made available by Harvard President Neil L. Rudenstine.
Sommers says she may attempt to perform a follow-up study on the writing experience of the class of 2001 after graduation.
—Staff writer Daniel P. Mosteller can be reached at dmostell@fas.harvard.edu.