A pilot study concerning the range of writing skills of intermediate students of English as a second language (ESL) is reported. The study identified the clause structures and relative low-order linguistic skills in the writing samples of 25 college students in this group. The method of evaluation of writing samples was a model of conformity to correct prose, focusing on three error types: word form, word order, and word choice. The first part of the report summarizes the goals of the original study, outlines the research design, and gives an analysis of the results. The second part includes discussion of three cases, each representing a particular kind of intermediate ESL writer, performing at high-, middle-, and low-intermediate levels. The third part summarizes the findings with respect to current pedagogical approaches and notes some implications for further research. (Author/MSE)