W131 is a course in academic writing that attempts to integrate critical reading, thinking, and writing about phenomena and issues in our culture. Rather than practicing a set of discrete skills or often unrelated modes of discourse, the course aims to build sequentially on students’ ability to read both written and cultural texts closely and critically and to analyze those texts in ways that also engage and problematize students’ own experience, the perspectives of “experts,” and the world they live in.

W131 aims to show students how the use of sources, agreement/disagreement, and personal response can be made to serve independent, purposeful, and well-supported analytical writing.

In summary, the course offers instruction and practice in the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills required in college. Emphasis is on written assignments that require synthesis, analysis, and argument based on sources.

The Composition program offers several sections of W131-Basic Writing (BW) each semester as well. In most important respects, the BW version of W131 is no different from other versions of W131: like other versions, the BW sections provide instruction and practice in the fundamental reading and writing skills required in college, emphasizing written assignments that require synthesis, analysis, and argument based on sources. In other respects, however, the BW version of W131 offers eligible students several advantages. For one, BW sections are considerably smaller than other W131 sections to allow for greater interaction between instructor and student. To this end, all BW sections are taught by experienced instructors who are committed to working closely with students. Eligibility to enroll in the Basic Writing sections of W131 is dependent on the student’s reported ACT English or SAT Verbal scores. Most eligible students have been identified by UDIV advising and have already been authorized, however, students who suspect they should be placed into a Basic Writing section of W131 but are blocked from enrollment should contact their advisor to determine eligibility and submit a request via our online permission form for consent to register. For more information, students may also contact:

Josh Hasler
W131-Basic Coordinator
johasler@iu.edu
Department of English
Ballantine Hall

Eligibility is based on the following guidelines:

• Basic Writing STRONGLY ADVISED
  • ACT ENGLISH 1-21 or SAT Evidenced Based Reading and Writing Score of 200-520
• Basic Writing Recommended
  • ACT ENGLISH 22 or SAT Evidenced Based Reading and Writing Score of 530-540

Note: The Basic Writing section fulfills the English composition requirement. There is nothing that appears on a student’s transcript to indicate that a BW section was taken rather than some other version of W131.

ENG W131ML is designed for those students whose core educational backgrounds occurred in languages other than English. Like other sections of ENG W131, this course offers rigorous instruction in understanding college-level writing and research as a multivocal process. It bears the same amount of credit, requires the same amount of writing, and places the same emphasis on critical thinking, analytical writing, and synthesis as does ENG W131; but it encourages students to gain lexical knowledge in a particular issue or topic area, equips them to become independent writers of English, and provides them with the opportunity to focus on specific linguistic concerns.

ENG W131ML also offers students a smaller class size and a setting that gives extra attention to the development of critical language awareness, especially as it relates to conventions of academic reading, writing, and inquiry across texts and contexts. For more information, students may contact:

Katherine Silvester
Multilingual Writing Coordinator
Department of English
Ballantine Hall 440
klsilves@indiana.edu

Eligibility is based on the following guidelines:

Multilingual Writing STRONGLY ADVISED

• ACT ≤ 21 (optional 22)
• SAT Evidence Based Reading & Writing ≤ 520 (optional 540)
• TOEFL ≤ 105
• Completion of SLS-T131, if required

Note: Seats permitting, Multilingual Writing is an excellent option for any student who identifies as multilingual and would like to take the class. For students who are not immediately eligible to enroll, please complete a permission request. Students and their advisors may also contact the Multilingual Coordinator for assistance.

W170 represents an alternative to W131, satisfying the freshman composition requirement but designed to offer more intensive writing and reading instruction around some theme or question. Open to all freshmen, it typically attracts those who are slightly more serious about reading and writing and more comfortable assuming a greater responsibility for their own learning.

As a reading and writing course, W170 has essentially the same goals as W131. Both courses assume that students will write analytical, argumentative, and investigative academic essays based on sources and that they will take their essays through a full cycle of drafting and revising.

W171 represents an alternative to W131, satisfying the freshman composition requirement but designed to offer more intensive writing and reading instruction around a theme or question related to the digital landscape shaping our world. Moreover, the course incorporates more use of digital technologies and introduces students to key concepts of digital literacy, digital problem solving, and digital creativity. Open to all freshmen, it typically attracts those who are slightly more serious about reading and writing and more comfortable assuming a greater responsibility for their own learning. It does not require any tech expertise, just a healthy curiosity for digital tools and questions.

As a reading and writing course, W171 has essentially the same goals as W131. Both courses assume that students will write analytical, argumentative, and investigative academic essays based on sources and that they will take their essays through a full cycle of drafting and revising.