Core Writing Program: Course Placement

Spring 2010 Placement for Core Writing Courses: October 15 through December 10

It's important that you begin your college education in the writing course that best fits your experience and ability.

We use the ACT or SAT scores for initial placement into Core Writing Courses:

*H = Honors

(For information about AP credit, see below. For information about placement into other courses, please see the UNR General Catalog.)

The Core Writing Program is still considering the new SAT II Writing component and how it will be used for placement. Your score on the SAT II Verbal/Critical Reading section will be used for placement. However, we feel that your actual writing, not just your test score, should determine your final placement. If you don't believe your test score reflects your writing ability, you may request a placement evaluation.

Printable Placement Information - PDF
Placement Chart - PDF

There are two options for evaluation, and there is a $35.00 fee for either. (Make checks payable to the Board of Regents.) Your placement cannot be processed without the fee. For this reason, faxes are not accepted. Portfolios and essays must be maintained in the Core Writing Program office and will not be returned. Your placement submission will be processed in approximately 2 weeks.

Note: It is important that you begin this placement process as soon as possible in order to ensure class availability.

Keep in mind that your writing samples are used to place you in the course that fits your writing ability. The evaluation process is not simply a way to challenge a course. Our goal in placing students is to ensure as best we can their success in writing. We place writers in 098 or 101 primarily according to these criteria: sentence fluency and essay development.

Sentence fluency: Your writing should not show recurring problems with basic sentence structure. However, occasional minor problems in usage will not necessarily place you in English 098.

Development: Your writing should demonstrate an ability to develop a central idea with explanation, examples, and other kinds of support. Clear, well-organized writing generally leads to placement in English 101.

NOTE: If any work in a portfolio is plagiarized, the student will be placed into English 098 automatically. In addition, the student's work and evidence of plagiarism will be kept on file in the Core Writing office, and a copy will be sent to the Office of Student Conduct.

English 101 Placement

Option 1

Bring or mail to the Core Writing Program office a portfolio containing three or four essays you've written in the past year. (ONLY hard copies will be accepted. Electronic submissions will not be accepted.) It is prudent to send copies and keep your originals as portfolios will not be returned.

Enclose a cover letter that includes the following:

a) Your full name, return address, phone number, and an email address we can use to reach you.

b) Your R number (UNR student ID).

c) A brief statement describing how we should deliver your results to you (choose one):

• EMAIL -- “Please send my results via email to the address listed above. By providing this information, I give permission for placement information to be sent to this address.” Note: if you choose this option, it is important that you provide a correct, current, secure email address.
• REGULAR MAIL – “Please send my results in hard copy via regular mail to the address listed above.  I have provided a self-addressed, stamped envelope for this purpose.”

If you do not choose one of these delivery options, or do not provide the information and/or self-addressed, stamped envelope, you will need to call the Core Writing Program Office to ask about your placement results. Please wait two weeks before calling the office at 775-784-6709.

d) A brief statement explaining why you believe you should be placed differently than your scores suggest.

e) A short description of what the essays in your portfolio show about your writing's strengths and weaknesses.

Send your portfolio, including the cover letter as outlined above and the $35.00 payment to:

UNR Core Writing Program
Mail Stop 098
Attn: Placement Exam
Reno, NV 89557-0098

If you have chosen to have your results delivered by mail, remember to include the self-addressed, stamped envelope.

We recommend that students submit a portfolio rather than take the exam because a portfolio shows more about your writing than the timed essay exam, which gives you little time for reflection and revision.

Option 2

Make an appointment with the Core Writing Program Assistant (775-784-6709) to come in and write a placement essay. The essay exam must take place during normal business hours and is written in the Core Writing Program office. Please have several options in mind for your appointment. You will need to allow for a two hour block of time. Bring your $35.00 placement fee to your appointment. An essay topic and all exam materials will be provided when you arrive.

Finding Out Results

As is noted above, you will need to provide contact information and/or a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want your results delivered to you by mail. Otherwise, you will need to contact the Core Writing Program at 775-784-6709 after two weeks and request your placement results.

English 102 Placement

The only option available for students requesting placement into English 102 is the portfolio or option 1.

If you would like your portfolio to be evaluated for placement into English 102, please make this request clear in your cover letter, otherwise the instructions are the same as they are for "English 101 Placement, option 1".

Finding Out Results

As is noted above, you will need to provide contact information and/or a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want your results delivered to you by mail. Otherwise, you will need to contact the Core Writing Program at 775-784-6709 for placement results.

AP Exam Placement

For students in high school Advanced Placement courses, AP credit is awarded as follows:

• For a score of 3 on the Literature and Composition or Language and Composition, you receive credit for English 101 (3 credits). You must take English 102.
• For a score of 4 or 5 on the Language and Composition exam, you receive credit for both English 101 and 102 (6 credits).
• For a score of 4 or 5 on the Literature and Composition exam, you may choose to receive credit for English 101 and English 297 (Introduction to Literature); you must then take English 102; OR, by completing English 104 (Investigative Writing, one credit) you can receive credit for both English 101 and 102 (6 credits in addition to the one credit for 104).

No more than 6 credits will be awarded for AP exams in English.