Overview of English 100

English 100 is an introduction to college composition that begins to prepare students for the demands of writing at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and also helps them think about writing in varied contexts beyond the classroom.

Our course satisfies the Communication A general education requirement for undergraduates. In recent years, approximately 65 percent of first-year students at the UW annually fulfill the Comm A requirement by taking a UW course. Most take either English 100 or Communication Arts 100. There are also courses in Life Sciences Communication and English as a Second Language that meet the requirement.

English 100 focuses on writing and the writing process, placing attention on rhetorical awareness in written, oral, and other forms of communication. As with all Comm A courses, its central purpose is to give students practice in a variety of modes of literacy with special emphasis on writing and speaking. We are also charged with helping students to develop critical thinking skills and information literacy skills within the context of the university. As a program, we are committed to inclusivity and helping all students succeed in the course.

Without question, this gives us a lot of ground to cover in one semester, and it’s not unusual for instructors, especially when they’re starting out, to feel overwhelmed. Just keep in mind that the many goals of the Comm A requirement can all be addressed by keeping the focus on students as writers, and always know that the program’s directors as well as your colleagues provide a strong support system for you in your work.

English 100 instructors include academic staff instructors (Teaching Faculty, Lecturers, Teaching Specialists) with advanced degrees in composition/rhetoric, creative writing, or English literature, and TAs from the English department and beyond. Graduate instructors might be MFA students in creative writing; doctoral students in literary studies, composition and rhetoric, and English Language and Linguistics; and often other doctoral students from the School of Education, Language Sciences, Second Language Acquisition, or elsewhere. There is, therefore, a rich community to learn from and grow in as you develop your skills in the teaching of writing.