First-Year Writing for International Students

What First-Year Writing Courses Should You Register For?

Based on a holistic evaluation of the application materials you submitted (e.g., your SAT/ACT scores, your TOEFL/IELTS scores, your writing sample, and your grade transcript), we will recommend a Writing course prior to your registration. Our recommendation for you will be based on your school transcript, your application essay, and any English test scores you may have submitted. Then, you will be notified if an additional placement test is necessary during Orientation. If you do not receive an email by July 3rd about a placement test, then you do not need to worry about it.

Below is some information about the Writing placement test and the WRT course placements. You will soon receive more information about the Orientation Schedule.

Structure of the Placement Test

Scores: 1-6

You will receive a short (1-2 paragraph) reading and a writing prompt. In response to the prompt, we ask you to write a well-organized, well-developed, and grammatically accurate essay in which you state your thesis and use personal experience and quotes/paraphrases from the reading to support your main ideas (time: 60 minutes). Your writing will be evaluated in terms of your comprehension of the reading as well as your use of grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, essay organization, and supporting examples.

First-Year Writing Courses

WRT 001:  Academic & Analytical Writing and WRT 002: Research & Argument (6 Credits)
(Average placement score of 5.5 or higher)

Introduction to academic writing that supports a claim in respectful conversation with others. Topics drawn from important issues in the world in which students live. The course provides multiple opportunities to engage thoughtfully in the writing process.

WRT 003 and 005: Composition and Literature for International Writers (6 Credits)
(Placement score of 4.5-5.0)

Students improve both their advanced academic written and academic writing style through a process of reading fiction and non-fiction and by writing well-organized, coherent essays for an academic audience. Citation, style, and written fluency and accuracy are addressed within students’ writing.

WRT 003 and WRT 005 are the equivalents of WRT 001 and WRT 002, respectively. They fulfill the same First-Year requirement. Therefore, if you have been awarded credit for WRT 001, you should not take WRT 003. You will not be awarded double credit if you take WRT 003. Similarly, if you have been awarded credit for WRT 002, you should not take WRT 005.

ENGL 015: Speech Communication for International Speakers of English (1 Credit)
Spoken English improvement through the practice of American English in “real contexts.” This course is for first or second year undergraduate students who have advanced English skills, but who need to improve their communication and idiomatic language skills for the advanced speaking contexts of the American university classroom and campus. Advanced Spoken English accent improvement and academic presentations skills are also practiced as needed.

ENGL 016 and/or 017: Recitation for Composition and Literature (1 Credits)

For multilingual speakers of English taking composition courses (WRT 001, 002, 003, 005, 011, or Business 003), this recitation class will give students a space to ask questions about English grammar, American rhetorical conventions, academic genres, and the writing process in a small class setting, providing them with the extra support they need to succeed in the ENGL 001 class.

Results & Advising

After you take the placement test, the results of your placement will be sent to you and your academic department via email by Wednesday, August 28th. If you need to speak with someone about your placement results, you can email an ICAPE adviser (inicape@lehigh.edu) to set up an appointment to meet with an advisor.

We at Lehigh University are looking forward to meeting you and helping to support your success.