Frequently Asked Questions
First Writing Requirement
I think I already write pretty well, thank you. What are the goals of the first writing requirement?
Which course(s) should I take: 105/106, 105/107/108, 110, or 210?
I'm a transfer student, but I didn't exempt. What should I do?
I'm a varsity athlete. How will my travel schedule affect my work in this class?
English is not my first language. Are there any resources for me?
Second Writing Requirement
First Writing Requirement
1. I think I already write pretty well, thank you. What are the goals of the first writing requirement?
Some students come to Charlottesville having written award-winning fiction and poetry; others have contributed to their high school newspapers or regional magazines; still others have simply always done well on high school essay assignments. Although abilities vary, we assume you already have control of your writing style and mechanics. We also assume that you are able to clearly state your own opinions, and to clearly summarize the opinions of others.
Building on this base, the first writing requirement has two main goals: to give students practice developing academic arguments, and to help students become more articulate about their own knowledge of writing.
With an eye toward the first goal, the courses that meet the first writing requirement (FWR) offer instruction in several keys features of academic argument: finding an argument worth making, framing a problem so that readers care, and persuading a reader who initially disagrees with the writer.
Additionally, the first writing requirement helps UVa students develop an articulate knowledge of writing. That is, graduates should not only be able to produce prose appropriate to the occasion, but they should also be able to explain what happens on the page when writing succeeds--an important ability because many of our graduates report that their work involves evaluating and managing their colleagues' writing.
2. Which course(s) should I take: 105/106, 105/107/108, 110, or 210?
ENWR 105/106 is a two semester sequence that fulfills the first writing requirement. In ENWR 105, students focus on argument and problem statements. In ENWR 106, they study strategies for producing cohence, cohesion, and a range of prose styles.
The 8-credit ENWR 105/107/108 sequence is offered for students whose first language is not English and who are still developing proficiency in American English. In their first semester, these students take ENWR 105 along with a 1-credit ESL workshop (ENWR 107). Students who have successfully completed ENWR 105 and ENWR 107 finish the first writing requirement by completing ENWR 108, a 4-credit course that borrows the curriculum of ENWR 106 and adds an integrated ESL workshop.
In a single semester, ENWR 110 and 210 cover argument, problem statements, and coherence. ENWR 110 also offers an accelerated introduction to the key features of style, while ENWR 210 allows students to explore more advanced features of argument and style.
Because of its pace and abbreviated curriculum, ENWR 110 is most appropriate for students who have been successful writers in high school and who feel comfortably in control of their sentence style. ENWR 210 is most appropriate for transfer students and for first-years who enter UVa with a particularly strong background in academic argument.
Initial placement decisions are made on the basis of standardized test scores. Transfer students and students scoring 670-710 on the writing portion of the new SAT exam should take ENWR 210. Students who score 490-660 on the writing portion of the new SAT exam should meet the first writing requirement in ENWR 110. Students who score 480 or below should take ENWR 105 during their first semester at UVa, followed by ENWR 106 in the second semester.
Entering students who feel that their SAT scores do not accurately reflect their abilities may have their placement checked by submitting a placement portfolio. Note: the deadline for fall 2007-spring 2008 placement portfolios to be received by the Writing Program is August 1st, 2007. The portfolio placement reading committee meets once a year. It will convene on August 2nd, 2007; and then it will not convene again until August 2008. If you hope to be exempted on the basis of a portfolio in 2007-08, you must submit a portfolio by the August 1, 2007 deadline.
Students who are not exempt must complete the first writing requirement during their first year. Transfer students should complete the requirement during their first semester.
If the Admissions Office or the Writing Program requires you to complete the first writing requirement in ENWR 105/107/108, register for ENWR 105 and ENWR 107 in the fall semester. Upon successfully completing those courses, register for ENWR 108 in the spring.
4. Are all the sections the same?
Because most sections of ENWR 105, 106, 108, 110, and 210 are themed, students in different sections will develop arguments about different topical content. However, the writing curriculum is consistent among sections.
The sections also share other characteristics in common, with each assigning
Approximately 25 pages of writing
At least 4 papers, with each a minimum of 3 pages (600 words)
Significant revision
Registration is handled through ISIS (UVa's on-line system), which allows students to see a regularly updated report of all available openings and to adjust their own course registration. You should register as soon as possible for an open section rather than wait in the hope that a space will become available in a currently full section. Once you are registered for a section, you may, of course, use ISIS to watch for openings and to switch sections should a desireable opening become available.
First writing requirement courses require relatively low student/instructor ratios to succeed. You are welcome to help yourself to any open section via ISIS. However, in order to protect the quality of education for all ENWR students, neither ISIS, nor the instructor, nor the Writing Program will allow you to register in a section that is already full.
7. I'm a transfer student, but I didn't exempt. What should I do?
Transfer students who are not exempt from the first writing requirement typically complete ENWR 210 during their first semester at UVa. If you feel that your ability with academic argument should exempt you from the first writing requirement, you may ask the Writing Program to verify your FWR placement by reviewing a portfolio of your best argument essay during the August portfolio reading. (In order to earn an exemption in 2007-08, your placement portfolio must be received by August 1st, 2007; see FAQ #2 above for more information on placement.)
8. I'm a varsity athlete. How will my travel schedule affect my work in this class?
Frequent travel can make it more challenging for you to successfully complete the first writing requirement. Based on past exerience, we strongly recommend that athletes take ENWR in the off-season.
9. I'm exempt from the first writing requirement, but I think I'd benefit from a writing course; what are my options?
You could take ENWR 220. A range of classes are offered under the ENWR 220 banner, with offerings changing each semester. Past ENWR 220 courses have included "Writing for the Web," "Technical Writing," "Writing about Baseball," "Corporate Identities," and "Writing about Music."
You could also take ENWR 380 (Academic and Professional Writing), although this course typically serves students in their second year or beyond.
See the course offerings page for more information on these courses.
10. English is not my first language. Are there any resources for me?
You might be required by the Admissions Office or the Writing Program to complete the first writing requirement in ENWR 105/107/108. If so, this requirement should appear on your VISTAA report, or else you will be contacted by the Writing Program.
If you are not required to take ENWR 105/107/108 but you are still not yet fully comfortable with written English, you should strongly consider taking ENWR 107 in addition to your regular first writing requirement course (ENWR 105/106, ENWR 110, or ENWR 210).
ENWR 107 is a 1-credit workshop that meets once a week and is graded credit/no-credit. For non-native speakers who are still developing fluency and idiomatic control in written English, ENWR 107 offers weekly workshop feedback on the papers you write for your other ENWR courses.
Contact Dudley Doane (djd4j@Virginia.EDU) at the Center for American English Language & Culture for more details.
Second Writing Requirement
1. What are the goals of the second writing requirement?
The college's second writing requirement has two general goals: to ensure that students receive additional writing feedback beyond the first writing requirement, and to give students some familiarity with writing in their chosen field.
2. When should I fulfill the requirement?
According to the College of Arts and Sciences, you are obliged to fulfill the second writing requirement by the end of your sixth semester.
3. May I complete the second writing requirement before I finish the first writing requirement? Does doing so exempt me from the first writing requirement?
Many students complete a number of courses that might be used to fulfill the second writing requirement. The Second Writing Requirement is administered by the College of Arts and Sciences rather than the Writing Program, and the two requirements operate independently. Nothing prevents you from taking a course that meets the second writing requirement as early in your UVa career as you wish; however, successfully completing the second writing requirement does not exempt you from the first writing requirement.