FAQ

ENWR 1505/1506 is a two-semester sequence that fulfills the first writing requirement.  Students in this stretch sequence will gain experience in sustained written inquiry.

The ENWR 1507/1508 sequence is offered for students whose first language is not English and who are still developing proficiency in American English. In their first semester, these students take ENWR 1507. Students who have successfully completed ENWR 1507 finish the first writing requirement by completing ENWR 1508, a course that borrows the curriculum of ENWR 1506 and adds an integrated ESL workshop. We also offer single-semester options as ENWR 1510: Writing as Multilingual Writers.

Because of its pace and abbreviated curriculum, ENWR 1510 is most appropriate for students who have been successful writers in high school and who feel comfortably in control of their sentence style. 

Initial placement decisions are made on the basis of standardized test scores. Students who score 570-740 on the SAT's Evidence-Based Reading and Writing exam or 22-35 on the ACT English exam should meet the first writing requirement in ENWR 1510. Students who score 560 or below on the SAT's Evidence-Based Reading and Writing exam or 21 or below on the ACT English exam should take ENWR 1505 during their first semester at UVa, followed by ENWR 1506 in the second semester. 

Students must complete the first writing requirement during their first year. 

Students taking ENWR 1510, ENWR 1520, or ENWR 1530 should register for fall semester if the first letter of their last name is A through K. Students should also register for fall if they play on a varsity team that travels primarily in the spring, if they are a transfer student, or if they are repeating the course.

Otherwise, students with last names beginning with L-Z should register for spring semester if they are taking ENWR 1510, ENWR 1520, or ENWR 1530.

FWR+ students are free to take their FWR+ course in either fall or spring, regardless of their last name.

If you are required to complete the first writing requirement using ENWR 1505/06, register for ENWR 1505 in the fall semester. Upon successfully completing that course, register for ENWR 1506 in the spring.

Because most FWR sections of ENWR are themed, students in different sections will explore different topical content.

The sections also share other characteristics in common, with each assigning

• At least 4000+ words of writing
• At least three papers of at least 1000 words
• Regular short writing assignments and exercises
• Significant revision 

Registration is handled through SIS (UVa's on-line system), which allows students to see a regularly updated report of all available openings and to adjust their own course registration. You should register as soon as possible for an open section rather than wait in the hope that a space will become available in a currently full section. Once you are registered for a section, you may, of course, use SIS to watch for openings and to switch sections should an opening become available.

No.  First writing requirement courses require relatively low student/instructor ratios to succeed. You are welcome to help yourself to any open section via SIS. However, in order to protect the quality of education for all ENWR students, neither SIS, nor the instructor, nor the Writing Program will allow you to register in a section that is already full.

Transfer students who are not exempt from the first writing requirement typically complete the FWR during their first semester at UVa. If you feel that your ability with academic argument should exempt you from the first writing requirement, you may ask the Writing Program to verify your FWR placement by reviewing a portfolio of your best argumentative essays during the August portfolio reading. (See the placement page for details.)

Frequent travel can make it more challenging for you to successfully complete the first writing requirement. Based on past experience, we strongly recommend that athletes take ENWR in the off-season.

You could take ENWR 2520. A range of classes are offered under the ENWR 2520 banner, with offerings changing each semester. Past ENWR 2520 courses have included "Writing for the Web," "Technical Writing," "Writing about Baseball," "Corporate Identities," and "Writing about Music." 

See the course offerings page for more information on these and other courses.

You might be required to complete the first writing requirement in the ENWR 1507/1508 sequence. If so, you will be contacted by Professor Claire Chantell of the Writing Program.

The college's second writing requirement has two general goals: to ensure that students receive additional writing feedback beyond the first writing requirement, and to give students some familiarity with writing in their chosen field.

According to the College of Arts and Sciences, you are obliged to fulfill the second writing requirement by the end of your sixth semester.

Many students complete multiple courses that might be used to fulfill the second writing requirement. The Second Writing Requirement is administered by the College of Arts and Sciences rather than the Writing Program, and the two requirements operate independently. Nothing prevents you from taking a course that meets the second writing requirement as early in your UVa career as you wish; however, successfully completing the second writing requirement does not exempt you from the first writing requirement.