English as Second Language Workshop:

I.  ENWR 1507: a 1-credit ESL writing workshop. Non-native writers/speakers of English can take ENWR 107 when enrolled in ENWR 1505, 1506, 1510, 2510, 2520, or 3800. Space is limited, and priority is given to students who are taking the ENWR 1505/1507/1508 sequence.

Two-Semester Sequences Fulfilling the First Writing Requirement:

I.  ENWR 1505/1506: the sequence most appropriate for native speakers or advanced non-native speakers scoring 480 or below either on the writing portion of the SAT. (Themed*)

ENWR 1505/1506 is a two-semester sequence that fulfills the first writing requirement for students in the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Nursing, and the School of Architecture.

Students in the ENWR 105/106 sequences should register for ENWR 1505 in the fall. Upon successful completion of ENWR 1505, these students should register for ENWR 106 the following semester. (Students scoring 490-660 on the writing portion of the new SAT or on the SAT II Writing exam should take ENWR 1510 instead of 1505/1506; transfer students and students scoring 670-710 on the writing portion of the new SAT or on the SAT II Writing exam should take ENWR 2510.)

II.  ENWR 105/107/108:fulfilling the first writing requirement for non-native speakers of English, this two-semester sequence offers instruction in academic argument and in the conventions of American English. Space is limited, and priority is given to students who are required to take the sequence by recommendation of the admissions office, the transition program, or the writing program. (Themed*)

ENWR 1507 is an ESL workshop typically taken along with ENWR 1505 as the first half of the two-semester sequence for non-native speakers. Alternatively, non-native speakers who are not in the 1505/1507/1508 sequence may take ENWR 1507 while enrolled in ENWR 1505, 1510, 2510, 2520, or 3800. Register via SIS, or contact Dudley Doane at the Center for American English Language & Culture for more details. (1 credit, graded pass/fail)

ENWR 1508 is the second half of the year-long sequence. In addition to the scheduled class time, students meet individually with the instructor every other week for ESL instruction.

Students in the ENWR 1505/1507/1508 sequence should take both ENWR 1505 and 1507 in the fall, in anticipation of taking ENWR 1508 in the spring.

III.  ENWR 2150/2160/2170 (Pavilion Writers):

Students in this invitation-only sequence complete the first writing requirement by taking a series of 1-credit workshops spread across three semesters.  Each semester, students begin with papers assigned in their other courses. Then -- through a series of workshops, lessons, and guided exercises -- students revise and expand those papers while building a writing portfolio. Along the way, students in the Pavilion Writers sequence sharpen both their writing and editing skills.

Single-Semester Courses Fulfilling the First Writing Requirement:

I.  ENWR 1510: the academic argument course for students scoring 490-660 on the writing portion of the SAT. Students in the ENWR 1510 pool who did not complete the first writing requirement in the fall should register in the spring. Exception for varsity athletes: ENWR 1510 often entails peer-editing, staged assignments, and group projects that are difficult to make up in cases of travel-related absence. Whenever possible, enroll in the off-season. (Themed*)

II.  ENWR 2510: an advanced single-semester course fulfilling the first writing requirement. Most appropriate for non-exempt transfers and students scoring 670-710 on the writing portion of the SAT exam. Students in the ENWR 2510 pool who did not complete the first writing requirement in the fall should register in the spring. Exception for varsity athletes: ENWR 2510 often entails peer-editing, staged assignments, and group projects that are difficult to make up in cases of travel-related absence. Whenever possible, enroll in the off-season. (Themed*)

Beyond the First Writing Requirement :

I.  ENWR 2520: explores special topics in writing, with offerings changing each semester in response to student interest and instructor availability. Past topics have included business and technical writing, sports writing, cyber-ethics, writing for the web, writing about law and literature, and creative non-fiction. If you are interested in having a particular ENWR 2520 topic offered in upcoming semesters, please contact the writing program to let us know. (Meets second writing requirement.)

II.  ENWR 3800: an upper-level course in academic and professional writing. In this course, students learn to control and produce a range of stylistic and persuasive effects. Combining a weekly lecture with a weekly small-group studio session, the course is designed for students who want to further hone their own writing skills, as well as for students preparing for managerial careers in which they will be responsible for the writing produced by their colleagues. In the lectures, students explore recent research in writing studies. In the workshop-based studio sessions, students propose, write, and edit projects of their own design. (Meets second writing requirement.)

* A Note on Themed ENWR Courses:

Because we write more convincingly when we are familiar with our subject, 1500- and 2500-level courses in academic writing at UVa are usually based on seminar-style topics. In these courses, students typically begin by asking questions about a shared set of readings.

These initial questions develop into paper topics as we work to find answers to our classmates' questions. In turn, the provisional answers in first papers typically prompt classmates to offer alternative explanations or else enable the group to ask more sophisticated questions. In seminar-style sections, later papers build on conversations begun in earlier papers, research, and ongoing class discussions. As the semester unfolds, students may pursue research interests related to the class core.

Although these sections are topical, the focus is still firmly on academic writing and problem solving. The course themes simply provide students with shared sets of questions, readings, and knowledge to address in their papers.

See UVa's online Schedule of Classes for detail about the themes of individual sections. (Fall themes are typically available in late May, while spring themes are typically available in late October.)