Success Center Support for Composition

Your writing ability is probably the skill most critical to your success in college. Our two required composition courses, En101 and En102, have high standards, and writing skills will be an important focus as you progress through your college course work.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if my skills need improvement?

You will write diagnostic essays in En101 and will take regular proficiency tests in the Writing Lab component of En101. If these indicators show that you need extra help in En101, we will see that your instructor and the staff of the Success Center arrange tutorial and other support to give you every opportunity to finish the course in one semester.

What happens if I don't finish in one semester?

All En101 students must submit a portfolio of their compositions at the end of En101 to demonstrate that they have mastered the skills required by the course. You must earn a grade of at least C on this portfolio. If your portfolio grade is C- or D, you will receive the notation of Z on your transcript, which will not be averaged into your GPA. You will then have the opportunity to bring your writing up to a satisfactory level during one additional semester. There is no charge for the extra semester. The "Z" semester is taught by Success Center faculty, who will pay particular attention to your individual needs as you develop your writing skills. You can find more information about our composition courses and exit requirements on our Composition Web Page.

Is there extra help available?

We believe that the secret of good writing is careful revision. As you plan for each revision, we encourage you to schedule individual conferences with your instructor or to use our writing tutors. Our Writing Center is described on another Web page.