FAQs
- Can you tell me what course I need to take to pass the composition requirement?
- Are there composition courses equivalent to English 101 and English 102 for international students?
- What course do I take during my first semester?
- I’ve been placed into Stretch, but I am not sure why or what it means. Can you explain?
- Will I be behind if I take Stretch? Will it delay my graduation?
- What courses do I need to take if I transfer to ASU from another school?
- What is a “Writing Certificate”?
- Where can I learn more about earning a “Writing Certificate”?
- Are there any awards, publications, or honors I might be eligible for through Writing Programs?
- What is the policy for adding or dropping a Writing Programs course?
- May I get an override to enroll in a closed section?
- What is the attendance policy? (H1N1 policy)
- What if I have to miss the first week of school?
- What is an instructor initiated drop?
- What courses other than first-year composition does Writing Programs offer?
- What are the policies about submitting work, grading, and classroom expectations?
- Can I dispute a grade that I received?
- What is plagiarism? I hear a lot of talk about it, but I’m not exactly sure what it is.
- How do I avoid plagiarizing?
- I am worried that I might accidentally plagiarize. What will happen if I do?
- Who teaches in Writing Programs?
- My parents want to know how I’m doing in my writing class? Can they contact my instructor? (FERPA)
- I have other questions. Who should I contact?
First-Year Composition is required of every student who intends to graduate with a baccalaureate degree from Arizona State University. The composition program emphasizes the reading and writing of academic prose. Most students meet the composition requirement by successfully completing ENG 101 and ENG 102 or completing ENG 105, the advanced First-Year composition course. Students (both domestic and international) whose primary language is not English meet the composition requirements by taking ENG 107 and ENG 108. Other students complete the composition requirement by transferring equivalent courses from other institutions.
Are there composition courses equivalent to English 101 and English 102 for students (either domestic or international) whose primary language is not English?
English 107 and 108 are equivalent to English 101 and 102. Students (both domestic and international) whose primary language is not English must take English 107 -- First-Year Composition for ESL Writers. After completing English 107, these students must take English 108. Some students, depending on their TOEFL scores, will enroll in the year-long WAC 107/English 107 Stretch Program.
TOEFL 550PBT/213CBT/79iBT and below = WAC 107
TOEFL 560PBT/220CBT/83iBT and above = ENG 107
Please note: sometimes students who can speak and write perfectly well in English are misplaced into ENG 107 or ENG 108. If you feel that perhaps you have been misplaced and really belong in ENG 101 or ENG 102, please contact the Writing Programs Office in LL314.
First semester English placement is based on ACT or SAT scores:
SAT Verbal 460 and below = WAC 101 or WAC 107
ACT English 18 or below = WAC 101 or WAC 107
SAT Verbal 470-610 = ENG 101 or ENG 107
ACT English 19-25 = ENG 101 or ENG 107
SAT Verbal 620 or above = ENG 105
ACT English 26 or above = ENG 105
Admitted ASU students who have not sent official ACT or SAT scores to ASU or who wish to attempt to raise their test scores may take the WritePlacer section of the ACCUPLACER for placement into a first-year English composition course. English Placement test sessions are by reservation only. Please call to make your reservations by contacting University Testing Services at 480-965-7146 as soon as possible.
Additional information about the English Placement Test can be found at their website:
Scores for WritePlacer exams taken prior to May 12, 2009 range from 0 to 12. Placement into an English composition course is made on the following basis:
A WritePlacer Plus score of 7 or below = WAC 101 or WAC 107
A WritePlacer Plus score of 8, 9, or 10 = ENG 101 or ENG 107
A WritePlacer Plus score of 11 or 12 = ENG 105
A WritePlacer Plus score of 4 or below = WAC 101 or WAC 107
A WritePlacer Plus score of 5 to 7 = ENG 101 or ENG 107
A WritePlacer Plus score of 8 = ENG 105
Stretch is an award winning program developed by Arizona State University’s Writing Programs Teachers and Administrators to help basic writing students get more time and experience constructing full-length, college-level writing assignments to be successful in college. Students are placed in Stretch based on scores they earned on the SAT or ACT.
The Stretch Program "stretches" ENG 101 over two semesters, to give more time to those students who may not have a lot of experience with "academic," college-level writing. We see our basic writers as those who are capable of writing full, complete, and thoughtful papers, but who also might need more time for revision, group peer review, conferences with their instructors, and so on. These students, then, do the same readings and write the same papers as all ENG 101 students . . . only the class moves at a slightly slower pace.
For more information go to: http://english.clas.asu.edu/wp-stretch
No. Students get three hours of elective credit for WAC 101 that counts toward graduation at ASU, so students are not held back or slowed down--instead, they have three semesters of writing (WAC 101 + ENG 101 + ENG 102), which will help in all their classes.
All students are required to take English 101 and 102, or the equivalent, and pass with a “C” to earn a degree at ASU. For more information about transferring to ASU, go to: http://english.clas.asu.edu/wp-transfer
The Writing Certificate is a credential that students receive after having successfully completed a specified course of study. This course of study consists of 19 credit hours of advanced writing classes and includes a writing internship. Because the Writing Certificate is a declaration of academic excellence, as well as the successful completion of a course of study, students who receive the Writing Certificate have shown excellence by maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all Writing Certificate coursework.
The most obvious outcome for students completing the Writing Certificate Program is the knowledge that, as a writer, a graduate of this program will have been trained in and will be able to demonstrate the writing skills most frequently sought after and prized by today's employers. As students progress through the course work, they develop and improve their writing skills and move beyond fundamentals to effective communication.
An application to the Writing Certificate Program is required. For more information about the Writing Certificate and obtaining an application form, go to: http://english.clas.asu.edu/writingcertificate
or the Writing Certificate FAQs: http://english.clas.asu.edu/writingcertificate-faqs
You can also contact Robert Haynes, the director of the Professional Writing Certificate Program:
Absolutely. Each year Writing Programs hosts The Printer’s Devil contest which recognizes outstanding essays from composition students at Arizona State University. The contest is open to all composition students, i.e., students who have completed or are currently enrolled in one of the following classes during the current school year: ENG 101, 102, 105, 107, 108, 215, 216, 217, 218.
For more information go to: http://english.clas.asu.edu/wp-printersdevil
The process of adding and dropping Writing Programs courses is the same as adding and dropping any ASU course. You can enroll through MyASU during your enroll period and drop through MyASU any time during the drop/add period.
Students may also withdraw (with a grade of “W”) by calling Sun Dial at (480) 350-1500 or in-person at any University registrar location through the withdrawal deadline date. The withdrawal request form is available online at http://students.asu.edu/forms/withdrawal for in-person requests.
Course Withdrawal Deadlines:
Spring & Fall Semesters
The end of the tenth week of the semester
The end of the tenth week of the semester
Summer Session
The end of the third week of the semester
The end of the third week of the semester
Winter Session
The midpoint of the semester
The midpoint of the semester
A course withdrawal may be processed after the Course Withdrawal Deadline, but before the semester transaction deadline with authorized approval from the College offering the course.
No. Writing Programs courses have strict enrollment caps to maintain the effectiveness of instruction which depends largely upon the instructor's ability to respond frequently to the writing of each student.
Writing Programs maintains and expects teachers to enforce the following attendance policy: A student who exceeds 6 absences in a class meeting MWF or 4 absences in a class meeting TTH will fail the course. Attendance policy for Hybrid and Online courses below.
Hybrid classes: In the case of hybrid course that meets twice a week, a student who misses more than four classes -- either face-to-face, online, or a combination -- will fail the course with a grade of E.
Online classes: More than four absences will result in failure.
Definition of attendance in online classes: The instructor will define attendance in the syllabus. Generally, a student who fails to post an assignment to the class website during the assigned "window" of time will be counted absent for that class day.
Technical problems online: While these do occur either at home or from an on-campus connection, they are usually not valid reasons for failing to fulfill the requirements for attendance on that day. Students are responsible for allocating enough time to complete online assignments, and they should include the possibility of technical "glitches." Thus students need to allow enough time to try again later or to travel to a campus computer lab or alternative place to complete the assignment and therefore avoid an absence for the day.
Exceptions may be made by the instructor in the event of widespread computer viruses or some other large-scale event affecting ASU's computer network, but exceptions will not be made for routine computer problems.
According to university policy, students who are registered but do not attend any of the first week of classes may be dropped (see below). Students enrolled in hybrid/online courses must make every reasonable attempt to attend class or contact the instructor during the first week. After the first week those who do not show up either in person or by calling or e-mailing the instructor may be dropped.
Instructors are encouraged to drop students who miss the entire first week of classes. Because it is initiated by the teacher, it's called an "instructor initiated drop."
Writing Programs offers 100, 200, 300, and 400-level courses, and there are fairly extensive descriptions of all Writing Programs courses on the website. Also, feel free to check out our Mission Statement and our Goals and Objectives to get a sense of the values that inform our curricula.
While Writing Programs has provided teachers with some standard policies that appear in all Writing Programs course syllabi, individual teachers are responsible for setting and implementing classroom policies, including grading policies (i.e., how assignments are weighted, whether to use +/- grades, etc.), behavior policies (i.e., technology in class, tardiness, etc.), and course policies (i.e., participation procedures, assignment sequences, etc.). If have questions or concerns about classroom policies, your teacher is your first point of contact.
If you have questions or concerns about course policies, grading policies, or behavior policies that cannot be addressed by your teacher, please contact someone in the Writing Programs office (LL314). Office staff may ask you to complete a brief form detailing your concerns. A Writing programs administrator will then contact you to discuss the matter. If necessary, you may set up an appointment to discuss the matter further.
The Writing Programs office does not intervene in disputes over individual paper or assignment grades. You should make an appointment to discuss these with your teacher. Misunderstandings are best resolved at this level. If, after the semester is over, you feel you have been awarded an incorrect final course grade, you should also discuss it with your teacher. If you would like to pursue the appeal after that, you may submit to the Writing Programs office (LL 314) a packet containing a letter with a full explanation of your grievance, your contact information, copies of the course syllabus, the assignment sheets, your graded work, and any other documents you feel substantiate the appeal. The Writing Programs Grade Grievance Committee will review your materials, investigate your claims, and inform you in writing of their decision. During the investigation, they may also contact you for follow-up questions or additional materials.
The general definition of plagiarism is “knowingly presenting someone else’s language or ideas as one’s own.” Plagiarism can take several different forms:
- Using all or part of another writer's work word-for-word without quotation marks and proper acknowledgment.
- Closely paraphrasing or summarizing another writer's work without acknowledgment.
- Using original ideas expressed by another, in writing or in speech, without acknowledgment.
- Copying another student's composition or allowing another student to copy one's own composition. This includes copying a paper from an online source—copying a paper written by someone else—in part or whole—does constitute plagiarism, regardless of the source.
- Submitting a composition significantly revised by another person.
- Submitting as one's own work a paper written by another student or supplied by a professional paper-writing company.
- And, at ASU, turning in a paper that you wrote in one class for credit in another.
You must acknowledge the source of all material in your essays. This is done by systems of documentation, such as MLA and APA. If you have any doubt, you should credit the source or sources, even if the source is a roommate or parent. When in doubt about specific cases, you should ask the course instructor.
If you are having trouble writing an essay, visit with your teacher during office hours and visit the Writing Center or the Learning Resource Center.
ASU and Writing Programs take plagiarism very seriously. In accordance with policies stated in the Student Code of Conduct, Writing Programs will not excuse, condone, or ignore plagiarism. Offenders may receive severe penalties, including 1) immediate failure for the assignment, 2) immediate failure in the course, 3) immediate failure in the course with a grade of XE, 4) referral to the Student Conduct Committee of the University, and 5) possible expulsion from the University.
At the same time, we recognize that plagiarism is a new concept for many students, and it can be challenging to learn what plagiarism is and how to avoid it. Therefore, if you are at all concerned that work you’re doing might be plagiarized, talk to your instructor before turning the assignment in. If you are nervous about meeting with the instructor, make an appointment to see a writing tutor at one of the on-campus Writing Centers. Whatever you do, get help before you turn in an assignment so that you never have to worry about potential penalties.
Writing Programs courses are taught by well-qualified, dedicated teachers including full-time faculty members, full-time instructors, part-time faculty, and graduate students from the English department. Writing Programs staffs every course with teachers who have demonstrated their ability to teach effectively. Furthermore, in conjunction with the English department, Writing Programs provides multiple opportunities for all levels of instructors to access training workshops and implements annual assessments to make sure that students are getting the highest quality instructors.
Student information is protected by Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment.
By policy, Writing Programs teachers are not allowed to discuss student's academic performance with or release any information about student's academic records to others, including parents.
Students can access their academic records via http://my.asu.edu/, and share the information with their parents.
For more information on FERPA, please visit: http://students.asu.edu/policies/ferpa/ or visit the FERPA FAQs at http://students.asu.edu/faq/94
If you have further questions, you should contact a member of the Writing Programs Administrative Team.
Printer-friendly version