Our Courses

Foundations of Written Communication

First Year Writing is where students learn the conventions and rhetorical methods of academic discourse and the skills for how to write effectively, how to utilize research competently, and the ability to transfer the knowledge of that methodology to participate productively in whichever situation it is needed. As a future political scientist, historian, literary critic, or ecologist, the techniques learned need to be valuable in writing effective documents.

First Year Writing is crucial to preparing students for a lifetime of writing, which will include memos, emails, poems, social media content, diaries, blogs, reports, ads, stories, and letters. Students are tasked with understanding how the act of writing can have an integral relationship to their own lives, creating critical habits of mind that will help them in school and out of it, and encouraging writing as a mode of thinking that invites discovery.

Our Courses

ENGL 101 (3 credits)

Overview:
English 101 sets the tone for college writing (focusing on rhetorical awareness), and is a high-touch general education course that supports retention efforts

Catalog Description:
Develops students’ knowledge of what writing is and how it functions in the world. Invites students to understand their writing as situated within academic, civic, and personal contexts. Immerses students in developing flexible, inquiry-based writing strategies and processes. Emphasizes reflection and metacognition.

ENGL 101M (6 credits)

Overview:
English 101M has the same curriculum and instruction as 101 but with an additional full 3 credits of more love and support for students who need it and want it.

Catalog Description:
English 101 (see course description above) paired with a studio (lab) for multilingual writers. The studio is an intensive study of a variety of writing concepts and strategies designed to complement the English 101 curriculum. English 101M fulfills the graduation requirement for English 101.

ENGL 101P (4 credits)

Overview:
English 101P has the same curriculum and instruction as 101 but with additional 1 credit lab time for more love and support for students who need or want it.

Catalog Description:
English 101 (see course description above) paired with a studio (lab) component. The studio is an intensive study of a variety of writing concepts and strategies designed to extend the English 101 curriculum. English 101P fulfills the graduation requirement for English 101.

ENGL 102 (3 credits)

Overview:
English 102 is the second course in the Boise State first-year writing sequence. This course focuses on persuasive, rhetorically-driven writing and provides a strong foundation for library research.

Catalog Description:
Develops students’ understanding of how rhetoric functions in academic and public environments. Engages students in inquiry about writing and rhetoric in action. Immerses students in the iterative processes of writing and research. Offers opportunities to reflect on and compose in specific rhetorical contexts.

What Should Every Graduate Know, Do, and Become?

Foundations of the Discipline courses amplify what you know about the world around you, what you can do with the kind of communication and problem-solving skills essential for success, and who you become as you continue learning throughout your life. The “Know, Do, Become” motto of University foundations encapsulates these overarching goals:

Know: Able to employ different ways of knowing and apply key transferable concepts.
Do: Able to communicate well, analyze and solve novel problems, and work with others.
Become: Has developed into a reflective, self-motivated, lifelong learner who can actively direct their own future growth.

University Learning Outcomes Written Communication

“Written communication is the development and expression of ideas in writing. Written communication involves learning to work in many genres and styles. It can involve working with many different writing technologies and mixing texts, data, and images. Written communication abilities develop through iterative experiences across the curriculum.” (Excerpted with permission from Assessing Outcomes and Improving Achievement: Tips and tools for Using Rubrics, edited by Terrel L. Rhodes. Copyright 2010 by the Association of American Colleges and Universities.)

University Learning Outcome (ULO) Criteria: Write effectively in multiple contexts for a variety of audiences.

Use flexible writing process strategies to generate, develop, revise, edit, and proofread texts
Adopt strategies and genre that are appropriate to the rhetorical situation
Use inquiry-based strategies to conduct research that explores multiple and diverse ideas and perspectives, appropriate to the rhetorical context
Use rhetorically appropriate strategies to evaluate, represent, and respond to the ideas and research of others
Address readers’ biases and assumptions with well-developed evidence-based reasoning
Use appropriate conventions for integrating, citing, and documenting source material as well as for surface-level language and style.
Read, interpret, and communicate key concepts in writing and rhetoric.
Use reflection and self-evaluation to connect choices made in texts to audiences and purposes for which texts are intended

English 101 Course Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course, students will be able to;

Read, interpret, and communicate key concepts in writing and rhetoric
Use flexible writing process strategies to generate, develop, revise, edit, and proofread texts
Use reflection and self-evaluation to connect choices they have made in texts to audiences and purposes for which texts are intended
Use appropriate conventions for surface-level language and style
Adopt strategies and genres appropriate to the rhetorical situation
Use inquiry-based strategies to drive informal research and reflection.

English 102 Course Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this course, students will be able to;

- Read, interpret, and communicate key concepts in writing and rhetoric
- Use flexible writing process strategies to generate, develop, revise, edit, and proofread texts
- Use reflection and self-evaluation to connect choices they have made in texts to audiences and purposes for which texts are intended
- Use inquiry-based strategies to conduct research that explores multiple and diverse ideas and perspectives, appropriate to the rhetorical context
- Use rhetorically appropriate strategies to evaluate, represent, and respond to the ideas and research of others
- Address readers’ biases and assumptions with well-developed evidence-based reasoning
- Use appropriate conventions for integrating, citing, and documenting source material as well as for surface-level language and style.

The Write Class (TWC) is the primary source for First-Year Writing course placement. The Write Class is an interactive online placement tool that assists you in deciding which course is the best fit during your first semester at Boise State.
The Write Class
For students whose first language is not English and/or an international student, you will be directed to The English Writing Assessment (EWA). The EWA is used to place you into the college writing course that will benefit you the most.
English Writing Assessment

Our Courses

Our Courses

ENGL 101 (3 credits)

ENGL 101M (6 credits)

ENGL 101P (4 credits)

ENGL 102 (3 credits)

First-Year Writing Program