First-Year Writing at Lindenwood University is a sequence of related writing-intensive courses designed to introduce you to writing at the college level. You complete these courses during your first year at Lindenwood to create a solid foundation for strong writing skills—skills necessary in all other college courses and essential to future success in any career.
Graduation Requirements
Both ENGL 15000/EPP 15000 and ENGL 17000 (or their equivalents as determined by Lindenwood's Office of Academic Services) are required for graduation.
Placement
Multilingual Speakers
Placement is based on English Placement Test scores completed during orientation week. In addition to EPP 11000 or EPP 15000, students may place into other EPP coursework. After initial placements and in-class writing assessments, students may request an English placement review by contacting the EPP coordinator, Tracy Flicek.
English Native Speakers
Advisors determine students' placement during initial enrollment at Lindenwood University. The following information will help you to better understand your initial placement in ENGL 11000 and / or ENGL 15000.
ENGL 11000 Effective Writing (3 Credits)
This is an introductory college writing course that provides additional support for students enrolled in ENGL 15000. A variety of approaches, including writing prompts, journals, essays, grammar review, and peer/instructor review will focus on strengthening students' writing competencies. ENGL 11000 allows for more individualized attention addressing areas for improvement, such as sentence-level writing competency, drafting process, basic essay format, and productive writing habits.
If at least two of the following criteria apply to you, you may exercise the option to place yourself in ENGL 11000 to support you for success:
- If you have never written a paper of three or more pages in length.
- If you think you could use more practice with an approach to writing which involves activities for generating ideas, organizing information, and revising, editing, and proofreading.
- If you think you could benefit from more individualized attention and collaboration with classmates.
- If it has been several years since you have taken a class focused on writing.
- If you find writing is challenging or frustrating for you.
If you choose to place yourself in ENGL 11000, or you were placed into ENGL 11000 during initial enrollment, you must take it concurrently with ENGL 15000. Students must complete both ENGL 15000 and ENGL 17000 with a C or better to meet Lindenwood University’s requirements for upper-level coursework and graduation.
ENGL 15000 Composition I (3 Credits)
This is the first of two required college writing courses at Lindenwood University. In this course, you will be exploring various aspects of academic writing and will practice the writing process to draft several essays within various academic genres. This class will also use many different approaches, such as in-class writing, small-group and whole-class discussion, student collaboration, as well as essay-length writing. This course will also include grammar review, and detailed instructor feedback to help you improve your writing.
You may elect to enroll in ENGL 15000, or your advisor might recommend that you take ENGL 15000 based on your high school GPA and/or ACT score. To advance to ENGL 17000, students must earn a C or above in ENGL 15000.
If at least two of the following apply to you, you may exercise the option to place yourself in ENGL 15000 to prepare you for success in future writing courses:
- If you have had previous experience in writing a paper of three or more pages in length.
- If you have been reasonably confident in your writing ability at the high school level and you are ready to learn the writing skills necessary to succeed at the university level.
- If you have recently (in the past year or two) taken a class focused on writing.
- If you feel that your challenges with writing can be helped by a teacher’s comments on your paper and/or an occasional visit to the Writing Center tutors, as needed.
Advanced Placement and Transfer Considerations
- Students who have strong writing skills and wish to be considered for advanced placement in composition may attempt to successfully complete College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams to earn credit equivalent to Lindenwood University’s ENGL 15000 and/or ENGL 17000. For further details, please view the policy in the current university catalog.
- Students who have completed a course elsewhere that is equivalent to Lindenwood University’s ENGL 17000 are still required to complete ENGL 15000. However, they may attempt to successfully complete the relevant College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam equivalent to ENGL 15000 as noted above to fulfill that requirement.
