First Year Writing

First year writing plays an important role in the General Education program at Minnesota State University, Mankato. The purpose of the General Education program is to equip students with "those capabilities essential for all college-educated adults facing the twenty-first century," including "skills needed for effective understanding and communication of ideas" (Undergraduate Bulletin). Our first year writing courses provide opportunities for students to explore how writing works across disciplines, modalities, and literacies.

First year writing falls under Goal Area 1A of our General Education curriculum. To fulfill Part A of Goal Area 1, students must enroll in English 101: Foundations of Writing & Rhetoric, a one-semester, four-credit writing course, and pass it with a grade of "C" or higher. 

Some students benefit from taking an additional writing course, prior to enrolling in English 101, to strengthen their preparation for college-level writing. English 100: Academic Reading & Writing introduces students to writing in particular contexts, including varied academic disciplines.

Placement in English 101 or English 100 is determined by the student’s ACT or SAT scores and/or high school GPA (for domestic students) or TOEFL or IELTS scores (for international students). An on-campus Accuplacer test is also an available placement option for all students.

For more information on First Year Writing, contact Dr. Kelly Moreland.