The Writing Requirement and Writing Placement at RWU

All RWU students must complete the University’s six-credit Writing Requirement to graduate. There are two paths students can take to complete this requirement:

Path 1: The standard two course sequence most students take:

  • WTNG 102: How Writing Works (3 credits)
  • 1 WTNG course at the 200 level (3 credits)

Path 2: A three course sequence for students who feel they would like more preparation in writing for college:

  • WTNG 100: Introduction to Academic Writing (3 credits) 
  • WTNG 102: How Writing Works (3 credits)
  • 1 WTNG course at the 200 level (3 credits)

Please note: For students who choose Path 2, WTNG 100 counts as an elective course that is taken in addition to the six credit Writing Requirement in Path 1. If you select Path 2, WTNG 100 must be taken in the fall.

Directed Self-Placement

To help new students choose the right path for them to meet their Writing Requirement, they must complete the directed self-placement online survey (DSP). The link is at the bottom of this page. The DSP survey is not a test and it does not require a writing sample. It takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It is designed to help students choose the first-year writing course that feels right for them.

The following table summarizes some of the basic differences between WTNG 102 and WTNG 100:

In WTNG 102, students will:In WTNG 100, students will
  • Find and work with scholarly texts
  • Analyze non-expert and expert texts written for specific audiences
  • Write assignments of 4-5 pgs. in length that cite words from more than 1 source
  • Outline and summarize readings
  • Analyze texts written for broad, public audiences (essays, news articles)
  • Write assignments of 1-3 pgs. in length that cite words from 1 source

A faculty member from the Department of Writing Studies, Rhetoric, and Composition will be available during each summer orientation session to answer any questions students have about the Writing Requirement and Writing Placement. 

You can also visit the FAQ page at Student Academic Success—Academic Placement, or contact the 100-Level Writing Program Coordinator, Dr. Brian Hendrickson, at bhendrickson@rwu.edu.

Begin the Directed Self-Placement Survey Here