COLWRIT R1A Multilingual Student Writers Sections
What are MSW-designated COLWRIT R1A sections?
College Writing Programs (CWP) offers four to six COLWRIT R1A courses per semester that are designated for multilingual student writers (MSW). This means the course is reserved for non-native speakers of English. These sections follow the same curriculum standards and carry the same units as all other sections. The only requirement for students in COLWRIT R1A sections designated for multilingual students is that they spoke--or speak--at least one language besides English at home (a high percentage of COLWRIT R1A students meet this qualification). All MSW-designated sections are taught by specialists who can provide additional support to multilingual student writers.
Who would most benefit from taking an MSW-designated section of COLWRIT R1A?
An MSW-designated section can be beneficial to a multilingual student who speaks English fluently, but who has some difficulty writing or reading academic prose in English.
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?
Yes, MSW-designated sections are just as rigorous as any other section of COLWRIT R1A. These sections are designated "MSW" by the College Writing Programs (CWP) and are not seen as separate courses by the University; they are not reported differently from any other section of COLWRIT R1A on students’ transcripts, nor are they listed separately in any printed catalog. There are only two differences between these MSW sections and 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?
Look for the following sentence at the end of the course descriptions in the Schedule of Classes: “Section X presumes proficiency in a language other than English.” Alternatively, you can contact the College Writing Programs (CWP), collegewriting@berkeley.edu, 510-642-5570, and ask for the COLWRIT R1A MSW section numbers.