The purposes of the Basic Writing Skills Assessment Project, begun in the spring of 1977, were to provide a review and assessment of the existing English proficiency program and to develop a data base on which generalizations might be made about the status of writing skills at Plymouth State College. This report was written on the basis of objective scores from the English proficiency examination, SAT-Verbal scores, grade point averages, essays, a faculty survey concerning reading and writing skills, a student survey of types of writing required in classes, course syllabi, and essay rating sessions with representatives from departments other than English. Separate sections of the report discuss the writing proficiency program at Plymouth, faculty perceptions of academic writing and the level of students' skills, resources, and recommendations to the English department and to college faculty. Appendixes include a survey questionnaire, transcripts of faculty rating sessions, sample student essays, and technical data. (Author)