Writing Placement & Support
Important Updates
The Writing Success Placement Tool (WSPT) is now available at:
Writing Placement Requirements
How Does Writing Placement at ODU Work?
All undergraduate students who have not earned credit for ENGL 110C or ENGL 211C through dual enrollment, Advanced Placement (AP), the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) or transfer from another institution are required to score a "3" on the Writing Success Placement Tool (WSPT) to be cleared to enroll in ENGL 110C or ENGL 126C without the corequisite course, ENGL 101. Students who score a "1" on the WSPT will be required to enroll in ENGL 101 alongside ENGL 110C unless they appeal their placement by emailing writingplacement@odu.edu and request a placement change.
The Office of Writing Placement and Support does not make credit determinations and is not involved in the timeline for credit evaluation and awards. Newly admitted students awaiting credit evaluations for ENGL 110C or ENGL 211C may check with ODU Admissions to determine when a credit determination will be made prior to using the WSPT. Placement paths:
- Transfer students with credit for ENGL 110C or ENGL 211C are exempt from taking the WSPT.
If only 110C credit is granted, then the student does not need to use the WSPT and may register for ENGL 211C.
If only 211C credit is granted, then the student does not need to use the WSPT and may register for ENGL 110C.
If no credit is awarded, the student will need to use the WSPT to determine placement in either ENGL 101+110C or ENGL 110C.
If credit is anticipated but not awarded prior to orientation, students may choose to use the placement tool or to wait until orientation advising to determine best steps. Students whose credit award is delayed for 110C or 211C will not be hindered by their WSPT score either way. For more information about college credit eligibility, please visit: https://www.odu.edu/academics/academic-records/score-analysis/ap-ib
Students with ENGL 211C credit who believe they have met the ENGL 110C outcomes in a different course may qualify for the ENGL 110C Portfolio Waiver Option. For more information about the policy and whether or not your situation qualifies, see the ENGL 110C outcomes in the Undergraduate Catalog. To inquire about the process, contact Ms. Jenn Sloggie, the Director of Composition at jsloggie@odu.edu. If it is determined that the writing is equivalent to or exceeds the writing required in ENGL 110C, the student will be exempt from the ENGL 110C requirement. There would be no cost and no award of credit.
Writing Success Placement Tool (WSPT)
Writing Success Placement Tool (WSPT)
The Writing Success Placement Tool or WSPT measures students' writing and reading abilities and considers their previous learning experiences to determine which English composition course is the best fit for them. The WSPT uses a combination of high school GPA, performance on writing, reading, and grammar diagnostics, and self-assessment to make this determination.
The WSPT is covered by ODU's honor code, so students must sign an honor pledge before beginning the process. There is no time limit for using the tool. Students will receive their score via their ODU e-mail within 72 hours of completion. Those students who score a "1" will need to register for a section of ENGL 101 and its corresponding section of ENGL 110C (6 credit hours); these offerings can be found on the paired schedule. Those students who score a "3" may register for ENGL 110C (3 credit hours); these offerings can be found on LEO.
You can access the WSPT in several ways:
- Go to: wspt.odu.edu
- Find the link to the WSPT on your "admitted student checklist."
- Find the link in Canvas as provided during your orientation session.
Students will sign-in to the WSPT with their Midas ID credentials. After the tool is completed, students will receive instructions for next steps via their ODU e-mail within 72 hours of completion.
The WSPT includes 5 sections that the Writing Placement and Support Office uses to determine students' level of preparedness for university writing. Once students complete and submit each section, they will not be able to return to that section. Each section is saved upon completion. There is no time limit for completing the tool. However, students must complete all sections of the WSPT at least 3 days prior to their respective orientation session.
Sections of the WSPT
Academic History
Students will be asked to supply high school GPA, as well as information about their last writing course taken. Students need to make sure they have this information on hand before opening the tool.
Writing Assessment
Students will write responses to two prompts and then reflect on themselves as writers.
Reading Assessment
Students will read a short passage, answer multiple choice questions about the content of that passage, and reflect on themselves as readers.
Grammar Assessment
Students will select from multiple choice options to fill in blanks requiring appropriate grammatical answers and then reflect on their comfort with and knowledge about English language conventions.
About Composition at ODU
Information about ENGL 101 and ENGL 110C will be presented, and students will be asked to draw upon their previous reflections to identify which course sequence they believe is the best fit for them and reflect on their choice.
| Score | Next Steps |
| 1 | Student is eligible to enroll in ENGL 101 (Composition Studio) + ENGL 110C (English Composition): co-enrollment |
| 3 | Student is eligible to enroll in ENGL 110C (English Composition) Student has passed the initial assessment and met one of the prerequisites for the W-course in the major. |
Within 72 hours of completing the tool, students will receive an e-mail in their ODU account with their score as well as detailed instructions for registration. In addition to this e-mail, students may access their score by logging back into wspt.odu.edu should they need to. Tool content, however, is not accessible upon completion.
ENGL 101: Composition Studio (formerly UNIV 150)
Course Description
English 101 Composition Studio is an immersive study of writing, rhetoric, and composing concepts and strategies designed to complement and extend the English 110C curriculum. English 101 provides additional instruction, guided practice, and support as writers learn to successfully compose and revise in multiple genres for multiple purposes and audiences and navigate university literacy expectations.
- 3 credits
- Co-enrollment/ corequisite with ENGL 110C, which means that students take ENGL 101 and ENGL 110C at the same time.
- Students who place into ENGL 101 will sign up for both courses through ENGL 101.
Prerequisite: A score of 1 on the Writing Success Placement Tool (WSPT) or an override from the Director of Writing Support.
Students who have scored a "1" on the WSPT will need to enroll in corequisite courses, ENGL 101+110C (6 credits). The paired ENGL 101+110C courses for the upcoming semester can be found here:
Spring 2023: ENGL 101+110C Paired Course Schedule
These course pairings are not available on LEO, so you must consult this schedule to find a unit of paired ENGL 101+110C sections that suits you. Register using the ENGL 101 CRN (course reference number), and when prompted enter the corresponding ENGL 110C CRN.
*Please note that if you do not have the corresponding ENGL 110C CRN when you attempt to register for ENGL 101 in LEO, you can simply enter a series of random numbers when prompted for the 110C CRN and an error message will pop up with the correct CRN.
Tips for ensuring you are prepared to register:
- Log back into the WSPT: wspt.odu.edu where you can find your score, as well as a link to the paired schedule.
- Save, print, or take a photo of the score e-mail you receive for later reference.
- Find the ENGL 101+110C paired schedule here on the Writing Placement and Support website when you begin registration.
Curriculum
ENGL 101 follows an Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) Studio Curriculum that will include an individual writing plan with goals for each student that culminates in an ePortfolio, a live journal that provides them practice writing on a daily basis through prompts that connect them with the campus and resources therein, and a culminating project in which the class works together to compose a resource for the next cohort of students. The bulk of the remaining curriculum will be responsive to the real-time needs of the students in the class.Benefits
Individualized Instruction
ENGL 101 is capped at 12 (while other general education writing courses are capped at 19), which means students have access to more individualized instruction and support from their instructor. Students have the same instructor for ENGL 101 and ENGL 110C, so students have the space and time to ask questions and for the instructor to expand upon concepts discussed in ENGL 110C.
Mainstreaming Model
The ENGL 101 course follows the model of "accelerated learning placement" or ALP, a form of placement developed at Community College, Baltimore County. Students who placed directly into ENGL 110C with a score of "3" on the WSPT are joined by a cohort of students who were placed into ENGL 101+110C with a score of "1" on the WSPT. Those students taking ENGL 101 then break out to a different class space to:
- revisit concepts and assignments from their previous ENGL 110C class,
- create a writing portfolio that emphasizes reflection and self-awareness as a writer, and
- familiarize themselves with the ins and outs of university life.
The table below illustrates the structure of an ALP course. The figures in green represent those students who are co-enrolled in ENGL 101 and ENGL 110C.
Since the ENGL 101 class meets right after ENGL 110C in most cases, students can ask additional questions or obtain additional instruction to help them better understand and apply concepts learned in ENGL 110C.
Research shows that students thrive when they can remain with their cohort and move more quickly into their major classes. Additionally, group work activities are more effective for ENGL 101 students when they have the opportunity to work with peers with more developed writing skills.
To learn more about the ALP model, please visit: "What is ALP?"
Adding ENGL 101
If a student who is placed directly into ENGL 110C without the ENGL 101 requirement feels that they need extra support to be successful in ENGL 110C and wants to enroll in ENGL 101, they should contact Mary Beth Pennington, the Director of Writing Support, at mpenning@odu.edu before the Add/Drop date for the semester has passed to see if they are eligible. Students who are not eligible or who seek additional writing support after the Add/Drop date should contact the Writing Center.
Dropping and Withdrawal from ENGL 101
Please note that because ENGL 101 and ENGL 110C are co-enrollment courses, once enrolled, students cannot drop or withdraw from one course without also dropping or withdrawing from the other. Should you find yourself needing to drop or withdraw from these courses, be sure to speak with your advisor right away to discuss how this might impact your scholarships, financial aid, and full-time status.
Grades in ENGL 101
Students who earn a D or higher in ENGL 101 will have earned a passing grade. They will earn three credits for the course, and their GPAs will be impacted accordingly. Students should keep in mind, however, that the co-enrollment course, ENGL 110C, must be passed with a C or higher in order to move on to the required 200-level composition course. There are also some classes that require a grade of C or better in ENGL 110C as a prerequisite to enrollment.
More information about grades in ENGL 101 and ENGL 110C:
- Students who fail both ENGL 101 and ENGL 110C are required to retake ENGL 110C but are strongly recommended to retake ENGL 101.
- Students who earn a passing grade in ENGL 101 but do not pass ENGL 110C with a C or better are required to retake ENGL 110C but are not required to retake ENGL 101.
- Students who do not earn a passing grade in ENGL 101 but pass ENGL 110C with a C or better are not required to retake ENGL 101 but can opt to retake the course to improve their GPA.
The university will offer a standalone, permission only section of ENGL 101 about once per year or as needed for students who wish to retake ENGL 101. If you find yourself in this situation, please contact the Director of Writing Support, Mary Beth Pennington at mpenning@odu.edu, so she can help you best choose when to take the course. It is strongly suggested that students who plan to retake the course do so the same semester they are taking a writing intensive course, such as ENGL 211C, 221C, or 231C or a writing-intensive course in their major.