Writing Placement & Support
Attention Advisors: Effective Fall 2023
Updated Registration Information for ENGL 101+110C
ENGL 101: Composition Studio will no longer be paired with specific sections of ENGL 110C English Composition. Students who wish to take ENGL 101 can enroll in ANY available section of ENGL 110C.
- Advisors and students no longer need to consult a paired schedule to find a hidden CRN for ENGL 110C to match the section of ENGL 101 in which they wish to enroll.
- Students who have been placed in ENGL 101+110C do not necessarily have to remain in ENGL 101. If they choose not to register in the course and wish to enroll in ENGL 110C directly, or if they choose to drop ENGL 101 once the semester begins, they may contact the Director of Writing Placement and Support at writingplacement@odu.edu to ask for a score overturn, or they may contact the ENGL 110C instructor of record to ask for a pre-requisite override.
- ENGL 101: Composition Studio will retain its prerequisite WSPT score of "1,"to ensure that only students who were identified as needing support can enroll, and ENGL 101 will also retain the co-requisite requirement of ENGL 110C.

The Writing Success Placement Tool
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.
Writing Placement Requirements
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 use the Writing Success Placement Tool (WSPT) to be cleared to enroll in ENGL 110C,ENGL 126C, or the corequisite course, ENGL 101 +ENGL 110C. Students will receive a placement recommendation upon completion of the WSPT. Students who score a "1" on the WSPT will have the option to enroll in a corequisite, support course, ENGL 101: Composition Studio, alongside ENGL 110C..
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. 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.
Transfer Student Writing Placement Paths
Credit Status | Action Needed |
---|---|
ENGL 110C credit awarded | Student does not need to use the WSPT and may register for ENGL 211C |
ENGL 211C credit awarded | Student does not need to use the WSPT and may register for ENGL 110C |
No credit awarded | 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
Writing Success Placement Tool (WSPT)
Writing Success Placement Tool (WSPT)
The WSPT is an application that measures students' writing and reading abilities and considers their previous learning experiences to determine which ODU English composition course sequence 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. Anyone entering Old Dominion University without credit for ENGL 110C English Composition should use the WSPT.
The tool invites students to think carefully about their readiness for college writing and reading. Students who are given the agency to make their own writing placement decisions tend to perform better, especially when they, themselves, opt in to support courses. Therefore, the WSPT operates from a guided self-placement model.
Students who score a "3" will enroll directly into ENGL 110C (3 credit hours). These students cannot opt of this placement in the WSPT, but they may appeal their placement if they believe they could benefit from taking ENGL 101, as well, by emailing writingplacement@odu.edu.
Students who score a "1" are strongly encouraged to register for a section of ENGL 101 and a section of ENGL 110C (6 credit hours total); however, they can choose to opt out of the support course on the closing screen of the WSPT. With that said, students are not restricted by the choice they make in the WSPT; if they choose to register for ENGL 101 +110C after rejecting their initial WSPT placement in 101, they can still do so. If they choose to register for ENGL 110C without the ENGL 101 support course after opting in to ENGL 101, they may do so by contacting the Director of Writing Placement and Support at writingplacement@odu.edu, or by asking the ENGL 110C instructor for a pre-requisite override.
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 each student's English 110C curriculum. English 101 provides dedicated one-on-one and small group reading, writing, and non-cognitive or "studenting" support for ENGL 110C students as they learn to 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 ENGL 101 and a section of ENGL 110C.
Prerequisite: A score of 1 on the Writing Success Placement Tool (WSPT) or an override from the Director of Writing Placement and Support.
Students who have scored a "1" on the WSPT can enroll in corequisite courses, ENGL 101+110C (6 credits), or they may choose to enroll in ENGL 110C without the support course if they are confident they can pass the course without additional help.
See instructions for enrolling in your selected sections of ENGL 101 and ENGL 110C (PDF)
*Please note that students should enter the CRN for ENGL 101 first, followed by their chosen ENGL 110C CRN. Students may not enroll in ENGL 101 without the corequisite ENGL 110C. .
Tips for ensuring you are prepared to register:
- Discuss your placement decision with your advisor.
- Log back into the WSPT: wspt.odu.edu where you can find your score.
- Save, print, or take a photo of the score e-mail you receive for later reference.
Curriculum
English 101 students receive dedicated attention from an experienced writing instructor on reading, writing, and the non-cognitive aspects of being a successful student in ENGL 110C. The course includes weekly one-on-one and/or small group conferences wherein instructors invite students to reflect on their ENGL 110C coursework, to develop manageable goals for completing assignments, and to begin reading or drafting their assignments. ENGL 101 instructors also lead class discussions and activities informed by patterns of reading, writing, or "studenting" concerns that emerge in individual conferences.
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. Instructors will spend at least half of the course working individually with students in either one-on-one or small group conferences so that students have the space and time to ask questions, to reflect upon, and to practice their reading and writing skills.
Double the Writing and Reading Support
While students may enroll in sections of ENGL 101 and ENGL 110C taught by the same instructor, they also have the freedom to enroll in a 101 course taught by a different instructor. Students with different instructors will have two college writing experts dedicated to their success in ENGL 110C over 6 credit hours. Students with the same 101 and 110C instructor have the advantage of getting more immediate, constructive feedback on their progress in 110C
Mentoring Relationships
The individualized instruction in ENGL 101 makes it possible for students to develop closer relationships with their instructor and peers. ENGL 101 instructors come to understand their students' unique writing and reading behaviors in ways that build trust and mutual respect. Small group work can create closer bonds among peers and can enrich students' understanding of how other students are experiencing their ENGL 110C coursework and broader university expectations. These relationships empower students to be more reflective and engaged.
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 or their advisor should contact Mary Beth Pennington, the Director of Writing Placement and 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 plan to visit the Writing Center during the semester.
Dropping and Withdrawal from ENGL 101
Students may drop ENGL 101 within the add/drop period if they feel that they can succeed in ENGL 110C without it. 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.