Enrollment
I’m taking COLWRIT R1A this semester and don’t know yet if I will pass, but I want to enroll in a R1B course for next semester. Can I enroll in a R1B course for next semester before I get my final course grade in COLWRIT R1A?
Yes. You can enroll in an R&C Part B course for next semester. If you pass COLWRIT R1A at the end of this semester with a C or better, you are allowed to take the R&C Part B course that you enrolled in. If you don’t pass COLWRIT R1A at the end of this semester, you are not allowed to take the R&C Part B course that you enrolled in, and you will have to drop yourself from the course.
If you're enrolled in COLWRIT R1A in the spring semester and want to enroll in an R&C Part B course during the summer, contact us if you have problems enrolling.
There’s a prerequisite listed for the COLWRIT course I want to take. Do I have to fulfill that prerequisite before taking the course?
If the course you want to take is COLWRIT R4B, then yes, you absolutely must fulfill the prerequisite first semester of R&C before enrolling in the course.
For courses other than COLWRIT R4B, the answer is almost always yes, you must fulfill the prerequisite. You may contact the instructor to ask for an exception, but expect to be told that you need to fulfill the prerequisite before taking the course. Even if CalCentral allows you to enroll in the course, the instructor will likely drop you if you haven’t fulfilled the prerequisite.
COLWRIT R1A
What is COLWRIT R1A?
What will I do in COLWRIT R1A?
What is the format of the class?
Is there a final examination?
How are COLWRIT R1A portfolios graded?
Each student's portfolio is read by a College Writing lecturer that is not the student's instructor. It is marked as passing or not passing according to scoring guidelines developed by College Writing Programs.
What if I disagree with my portfolio's grade? Can I talk to the instructor who rated it?
You will receive a detailed statement from your rater as to why your portfolio didn't pass. If you disagree with this, you should speak to your own instructor. We do not release the names of raters to students.
I should have gotten a C-, but instead I got a D+. Why?
In order to pass R1A, you must receive a C or better. While a C- is a failing grade in this course, if you receive a C- you must repeat the course but cannot replace the C- grade. With a D+, you still need to retake the course, but your new grade will replace the D+ in your GPA.
Where can I go if I want extra help with my writing?
How do I enroll in COLWRIT R1A?
When should I take COLWRIT R1A?
Which section should I enroll in?
Should I enroll in a section for multilingual speakers of English?
What do I do if I can't get into the course this semester?
Can I enroll in COLWRIT R1A if I have already fulfilled the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement and/or R&C Requirement?
What course do I take after COLWRIT R1A to fulfill the second half of the R&C requirement?
UC Berkeley offers courses in a wide range of departments that fulfill the second half of the R&C requirement (see, for example, COLWRIT R4B). Check the Schedule of Classes to find out which courses are currently being offered.
COLWRIT R1A Multilingual Student Writers Sections
What are MSW-designated COLWRIT R1A sections?
Who would most benefit from taking an MSW-designated section of COLWRIT R1A?
These courses can benefit international and recently arrived students who want intensive support with improving vocabulary development, learning editing and proofreading strategies, and understanding the expectations of U.S. academic instructors.
Are MSW-designated sections of COLWRIT R1A just as rigorous as any other section of COLWRIT R1A?
- All of the students are multilingual and will bring this unique background into the classroom.
- The instructor has experience helping students address writing challenges in English that may be unique to second-language writers.
How can a student enroll in an MSW-designated COLWRIT R1A section?
Satisfying the UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement | AWPE
What is the UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement?
How do I satisfy the UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement?
If you have not started coursework at Berkeley: You can meet this requirement by exam or by coursework.
- To satisfy the requirement by exam, please consult the list of exams and scores that are acceptable.
- To satisfy the requirement by coursework, you must earn a grade of C or higher in a college course certified by UC Berkeley as satisfying the Entry-Level Writing Requirement.
If you have started coursework at Berkeley: You can meet this requirement by exam or by coursework.
- To satisfy the requirement by exam, you must score
- 8 or above on the Analytical Writing Placement Examination taken on the Berkeley campus (prior to 2023; this exam has been discontinued).
- To satisfy the requirement by coursework, you must earn a grade of C or higher in College Writing R1A.
If I didn't pass the Analytical Writing Placement Examination, what should I do?
If you have not started coursework at Berkeley: You can satisfy the UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement by earning a grade of C or higher in a college course certified by UC Berkeley as satisfying the Entry-Level Writing Requirement. Make sure the college sends your transcript to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Berkeley.
If you have started coursework at Berkeley: You must satisfy the UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement by earning a grade of C or higher in COLWRIT R1A.
Can I retake the Analytical Writing Placement Examination?
Can I satisfy the UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement at a California Community College (CCC)?
Can I satisfy the UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement at another UC campus?
Reading & Composition Requirement
Can I satisfy the Reading & Composition 1A Requirement at a California Community College (CCC)?
After you have started coursework at Berkeley, you cannot take a course at a CCC to satisfy the R&C 1A Requirement.
I failed COLWRIT R1A. Can I retake the course in the summer at another UC campus?
I failed COLWRIT R1A. Can I retake the course in the summer at a California Community College?
Can I satisfy the UC Entry-Level Writing Requirement and the R&C 1A Requirement in one semester?
Other UC campuses require you to complete a 2-course sequence to satisfy both requirements. The courses cannot be taken concurrently. Contact an advisor in your college here at Berkeley, or contact the other campuses directly for further information.
What's the difference between COLWRIT R1A and COLWRIT R4A?
Multilingual Student Writers
What kind of support does College Writing Programs offer to native speakers of languages other than English?
- COLWRIT 1 - Grammar and Vocabulary of Written English
- COLWRIT W1 - Grammar and Vocabulary of Written English (online and in-person)
- COLWRIT R1A (MSW) - Accelerated Reading and Composition
- COLWRIT R4B (MSW) - Reading, Composition, and Research
- COLWRIT 9C - Academic Writing
- COLWRIT 20 - Communicating in Class: Advanced Listening and Speaking
- COLWRIT 21 - Conflict Management for Academic Success
- COLWRIT 25AC - Reading in and about US Education Institutions
What kind of off-campus support does College Writing Programs offer to native speakers of languages other than English not enrolled at Berkeley?
What's a MOOC?
How does it work?
Every week, there are short clips of video lectures and assignments. The course is 10 weeks, divided into two parts—2x.1 and 2x.2. If you choose to pay the $49 fee, then you finish all parts successfully, you will receive a certificate of completion. (Important note: As with most MOOCs, this one does not offer college credit.)
What is COLWRIT 2x?
What will I learn?
2x.1 Weeks 1-5 How to Write an Essay
A review of basic grammar terminology and understanding; writing effective sentences and paragraphs; introductions and conclusions; strategies for writing longer texts; thesis statements
2x.2 Weeks 6-10 Academic and Business Writing
Formal and informal writing; effective email communication; academic writing; memos; project proposals; technical writing