ENL 111 Effective Writing Overview
The Effective Writing course is a key component of Augsburg University’s Core Curriculum. Students often complete this course early on in their academic career in preparation to move into more advanced levels of writing. Through ENL 111 students also participate in the Many Voices Project by reading a literary work that illuminates issues of diversity. The Many Voices Project intends to teach skills and methods that promote successful communication among diverse writers and readers.
The Augsburg English Department’s formal objectives for Effective Writing:
By the end of the term students will demonstrate in writing done both in class and out of class, the ability to:
- use a variety of methods to generate ideas;
- discover and develop a thesis statement;
- organize material using the methods appropriate to purpose, content and audience;
- use basic methods of coherence and transition; and
- write papers relatively free of errors in spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Furthermore, students will:
- complete successfully a research assignment;
- demonstrate an increasing ability to evaluate their own writing; and
- read, analyze, and write about one substantial literary work.
ENL 111 Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does every student enrolled at Augsburg College complete ENL 111?
A: No. Although most Auggies will complete ENL 111 during their time at Augsburg, some will have already completed an equivalent that transfers to meet the requirement. Some students do not take ENL 111 until they’ve completed ENL 101: Developmental Writing. You can read more about how students are placed into these courses here.
Q: Are there any other introductory writing courses?
A: Yes! Students enroll in their introductory writing course based on their writing placement test results; some Auggies take ENL 101: Developmental Writing prior to ENL 111. Others may enroll in ENL 112: Advanced Effective Writing, and students in the Honors Program may take HON 111: Honors Effective Writing to meet the requirement
Q: What is required to pass ENL 111?
A: Students must earn a 2.0 or higher to earn credit for ENL 111. Students who do not meet course requirements receive a grade of N (one time only) if their work is below a 2.0. A student who repeats ENL 101 or 111 and does not receive a grade of 2.0 or higher will receive a grade of 0.0.
Q: After completing ENL 111, what are students likely to have done in relation to prompts, research and documentation?
A: Students who have completed ENL 111 should be familiar with:
- reading and deciphering a prompt,
- conducting basic research (know the library search engines, evaluate source credibility), and
- learning and using the rules of style documentation (likely MLA or APA)
Q: What can I expect of students’ grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting abilities?
A: Students should be improving these elements through sessions at the writing center. Students whose first language is not English, and CLASS students in particular, may need ongoing work in this area, but will usually have started during ENL 111.
Q: What can I expect in the written work of students who have completed ENL 111?
A: Minimally, they are capable of writing at a 2.0 level under conditions where writing is the central subject matter and focus of the course. They will have practiced revising their own work, conducted a peer review, and engaged with a substantial literary work.
Q: What forms of support and assistance will students likely need from instructors regarding written work?
A: Opportunities for feedback from the instructor and/or peers on at least one rough draft, clear instructions and writing prompts, and encouraged use of the writing lab to help with editing and proofreading.
Q: Where can I find resources and support for teaching and improving student writing?
A: Review the resources available on the WAC webpage and Writing Center webpage. If you need more specialized support, contact the Director of General Education, Jacqui deVries: devries@augsburg.edu