English Composition Strategies

IWP Writing Links: consider taking one of the Interdisciplinary Writing Program (IWP) writing links. ENGL 197, 198, 199, 297, 298, 299 are approved English composition courses, but they are not "free standing" classes: they are paired with other courses across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences and must be taken concurrently with those courses (10 cr). These writing courses are designed to help students improve their writing skills while further exploring ideas and materials assigned in the lecture courses. Assignments in a writing link always draw on materials from the accompanying lecture course, and often include drafts of papers submitted in the lecture course. ENGL 197, 198, and 199 are linked with lecture courses at the 100-level. ENGL 297, 298, and 299 are linked with courses at the 200-level and above. Lecture courses which offer writing links vary by quarter. While ENGL 297, 298, and 299 are called "Intermediate Writing," there is no pre-requisite — students do not need to take a 100-level writing course before enrolling in a 200-level writing link. Any student who enrolls in a lecture course is eligible to take its link, as space permits. Consult the Time Schedule to find out which lecture courses are linked to various ENGL writing links.

Example:

Freshmen and Sophomores: take the course in the autumn or winter quarter, either alone or as part of a Freshman Interest Group (FIG) or a Transfer Interest Group (TrIG) if you're a new freshman or transfer student. These courses are restricted to freshman and sophomores during Period 1 registration in autumn and winter, but are open to everyone in spring.

Juniors and Seniors: take the course in spring.These courses are restricted to freshmen and sophomores only during Period 1 registration in autumn and winter.

Consider summer quarter. There is excellent course availability in the summer quarter, and continuing UW students usually have no problem gaining access to these courses.

If the course is part of a Freshman Interest Group (FIG) or Transfer Interest Group (TrIG) and you are not taking that FIG or TrIG, check the First Year Programs "Extra Seats" website. Sometimes, when FIGs and TrIGs do not fill up, First Year Programs will release available spots to non FIG or non TrIG students upon request.

If the course is full, there is only one thing you can do: keep watching enrollment to see if someone else drops the class, opening up a spot for you. Otherwise, there are no waiting lists, no overloads, no add codes -- no exceptions.

IWP Writing Links: consider taking one of the Interdisciplinary Writing Program (IWP) writing links. ENGL 197, 198, 199, 297, 298, 299 are approved English composition courses, but they are not "free standing" classes: they are paired with other courses across the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences and must be taken concurrently with those courses (10 cr). These writing courses are designed to help students improve their writing skills while further exploring ideas and materials assigned in the lecture courses. Assignments in a writing link always draw on materials from the accompanying lecture course, and often include drafts of papers submitted in the lecture course. ENGL 197, 198, and 199 are linked with lecture courses at the 100-level. ENGL 297, 298, and 299 are linked with courses at the 200-level and above. Lecture courses which offer writing links vary by quarter. While ENGL 297, 298, and 299 are called "Intermediate Writing," there is no pre-requisite — students do not need to take a 100-level writing course before enrolling in a 200-level writing link. Any student who enrolls in a lecture course is eligible to take its link, as space permits. Consult the Time Schedule to find out which lecture courses are linked to various ENGL writing links.

Example:

If you were not able to plan well and have become desperate (for example, you must take an English composition course now to be eligible for a particular major, or you are graduating this quarter, and none of the suggestions above will work for you), then there are two options; however, they come at an additional cost and require additional planning:

1. Take ENGL 281 through UW Online Learning. Online classes are not the optimal way to build skills in academic writing, but this course is available and does satisfy the UW's English Composition requirement. Online classes are not, however, covered by regular UW tuition because they are part of UW Professional and Continuing Education, which features self-sustaining programs (those not supported by state or public funds). The cost is around $1,880 per 5-credit class on top of whatever you pay in regular UW tuition. Online courses require more diligence and self-motivation than regular campus classes do, and they tend to have a lower completion rate.
2. Take an equivalent course at a local community college. All Washington State Community Colleges have courses that transfer to the UW as either direct equivalents (e.g., ENGL 131) or as eligible composition credit (e.g., ENGL 1XX-"C"). To find out which courses transfer, consult the UW Transfer Equivalency Guide. It's also a good idea to double-check with an English Adviser before signing up for a course elsewhere.

If you need to take classes at the UW while, at the same time, taking English composition elsewhere, it is sometimes possible to work with the Financial Aid Office to draw up a consortium agreement. This allows you to count classes from both schools toward full time enrollment and to disburse your financial aid award for tuition to both schools. Check with the Financial Aid Office if you are considering this.