Most students at Dartmouth take two writing classes in their first year: Writing 5, followed by a First-Year Seminar. Enrollment into Writing 5 is limited to 18 students per section. Approximately half of the students enrolled in Writing 5 are assigned to a fall section, and the rest are assigned to a winter section. This selection is done by lottery.
In the term before they take Writing 5, students are invited to review the sections offered and to select four in order of preference. Enrollment in one of the selected sections is highly likely.
Some students feel that they need more than one term of writing instruction. These students elect to take Writing 2-3, Dartmouth's two-term writing course, before taking their seminars in the spring. Writing 2-3 is limited to 16 students per section. Enrollment is facilitated by an on-line placement process, which is required of all first-year students with verbal SAT scores of 620 or below.
About one third of Dartmouth's first-year students are exempted from Writing 5. These students enroll in a fall seminar or Humanities 1 (see First Year Seminar Course Descriptions for more information). Students who take Writing 5 in the fall take their seminar in winter term. All Writing 2-3 students and those enrolled in Writing 5 winter term take a spring seminar. Enrollment in a First-Year Seminar is limited to 16 students.
When registering for the seminars, first-year students are invited to choose four seminars, ranked in order of preference. Enrollment in one of the selected sections is highly likely.
A First-Year Seminar may serve in satisfaction of specific General Education requirements, provided that the individual seminar has been approved for this purpose, and for the specific year and term, by the Committee on Instruction. Students are not eligible to participate in Off-Campus Programs until they have satisfied the First-Year Seminar requirement.
Any student who has scored lower than 620 on the Critical Reading SAT is asked to take the on-line Writing Placement exam and to complete the on-line Writing Profile. (Students for whom English is a second language may be tested even if their Critical Reading SAT score is higher.) The exam and profile are read by instructors in the Writing Program, who recommend a placement in the appropriate writing class - Writing 2-3 or Writing 5. Students can accept these recommendations or refuse them. No student is required to take Writing 2-3.
Students often ask how to determine which course is best for them. Admittedly, the decision can be difficult because, considered from a certain perspective, the programs are very similar. Both courses are rigorous and demanding; both help students to improve their writing; both are staffed by terrific, committed faculty.
But there are differences between the two programs. The following table outlines the most significant of these differences.
| Writing 2-3 | Writing 5 |
|---|---|
| Writing 2-3 is a two-term course. The extra term permits you ample time to improve your writing. | Writing 5 is a one-term course. You'll be able to complete your writing requirement in a single term. |
| Writing 2-3 provides thorough instruction in the research process and requires a research paper in the winter term. | Writing 5 does not provide thorough research instruction, though all classes introduce you to the library and require a research task. |
| Writing 2-3 offers individualized attention by providing tutors with whom you'll meet once a week. These tutors customize your writing instruction by addressing your particular writing issues. | Writing 5 does not offer individual tutor support. You can, however, find help at RWIT, the Student Center for Research, Writing, and Information Technology, if you need help. |
| An Writing 2-3 placement guarantees that you will begin writing instruction in the fall. | We cannot guarantee that you will be placed into Writing 5 in the fall. Your writing education may therefore be delayed until winter term. |
| Writing 2-3 classes are limited to 16 students. | Writing 5 classes are limited to 18 students. |
