Revised August 8, 2008
Placement into either ENGL 101 (Written English I) or ENGL 100 A/B (Basic Academic Writing) depends on a student’s score on either the ACT or the SAT test. Students who score 18 or above on the ACT English exam, or 450 or above on the SAT verbal exam, will be placed into ENGL 101. Students who do not meet at least one of these criteria will be placed in ENGL 100 A/B. Students who have been admitted to Shepherd without an ACT or an SAT score should sign up to take the ACCUPLACER Sentence Skills Test. This test may be taken in the Academic Support Center in Knutti Hall 114 and can be scheduled by contacting Missy Welsh at 304-876-5221. Students who score 88 or higher on the ACCUPLACER test will be placed in ENGL 101; those who score 87 or lower will be placed in ENGL 100 A/B.
Students who score 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement Test in English Language and Composition may enroll directly in ENGL 102 without completing either ENGL 100 A/B or ENGL 101. Students who score 3 or higher on the Advanced Placement Test in English Literature and Composition receive credit for ENGL 102 but not for ENGL 101 or ENGL 100 A/B. These students are placed into one of these two classes according to the ACT or SAT criteria listed above. Students who have received transfer credit for ENGL 101 may enroll directly in ENGL 102.
Instructors in both ENGL 101 and ENGL 100 A/B will administer a written diagnostic essay during the first week of class. On the basis of this essay, an instructor may recommend that a student initially placed in ENGL 101 drop the class and enroll in ENGL 100 A/B or that a student initially placed in ENGL 100 A/B be granted a waiver and allowed to enroll directly in ENGL 101. Any student’s decision to move into a class other than the one in which he or she was originally placed shall be strictly voluntary.
For questions about English placement, contact either the English Department chair or the department secretary by phone at 304-876-5365 or 304-876-5220 or by e-mail at tnixon@shepherd.edu.