Introductory Composition Directed Self-Placement

Question Title

* 1. Name (first and last)

Question Title

* 2. Student ID

Welcome to Heritage University!
Our mission at Heritage University is to empower a multicultural and inclusive student body through transformational, student-centered learning. As such, all degree-seeking students at Heritage University take introductory composition courses designed to develop your college-level research and writing skills. These courses offer innovative learning in traditional academic essays, multimodal composition, media literacy, and visual rhetoric.

Directed Self-Placement— How Does It Work?
For students to develop their best potential, it is essential that you are properly placed in the course that serves you best. Heritage University offers an array of college-level and college-preparation courses that provide students with necessary foundations for success – which include our pre-college “empowerment classes” (ENG 99a and ENG 99b).

The Directed Self-Placement process consists of 3 parts and should take about 30 to 40 minutes to complete.

In Part 1, you’ll reflect on your familiarity and comfort level with the work students do in writing courses at Heritage University.

In Part 2, you’ll read a short essay that represents a typical reading in an ENG 101 course. After reading the sample essay, you’ll answer a set of questions about how confident you would feel completing assignments about an essay like this in class. You will also be asked to write three paragraphs that respond to the reading, which will be evaluated by the Director of Composition.

In Part 3, you’ll review the course descriptions for ENG 99a, ENG 99b, and ENG 101 then use this information along with your answers in Part 1 and 2 to choose the right class.

Remember, the Directed Self-Placement process is not a test. Rather, the questions will help you assess how your abilities fit with each writing course and recommend which course to take. To ensure proper placement, your professor may move you into a higher or lower course based on your first assignment in class.

Incoming students may take the DSP survey anytime during Summer, but we encourage you to take it as early as possible. If you have any questions, please contact your advisor or Dr. Sol Neely, Director of Composition at Heritage University