Directed Self Placement (DSP)

Stretch Composition

(100A in the fall and 100B in the spring)

Standard 100B

(Taken in a single semester)

• 4 major writing assignments, spread out over a year-long experience
• Major writing assignments broken down into smaller parts and mainly developed in class with instructor and in-class tutor support
• Assignments acclimate you into university life in the first semester while you obtain college-level reading and writing and rhetorical strategies in the second semester
• One-on-one conferencing with the instructor multiple times throughout the year
• First semester graded Credit/No Credit (does not impact GPA), while second semester is graded A-F
• Slower paced; smaller class size
• Students may have the same classmates and instructor for both semesters, helping to build connections on campus

Many students choose this option if they: 

• Enjoy learning at a slower pace with more hands-on, one-on-one instruction in a writing class

• Struggle with meeting deadlines

• Have a rigorous and/or high-unit schedule

• Want more of a community experience with a year-long cohort of students to help build connections

• Have multiple obligations outside of school 

• 3-4 major writing assignments completed in one semester
• Multiple supplemental assignments that occur while major writing assignments are in progress
• Assignments emphasize academic discourse, focusing on analytical reading, thesis-driven writing, and rhetorical strategies in one semester
• More out-of-class obligations and expectations to work independently
• Graded A-F; must pass with a C or better 
• Faster paced; larger class size

Many students choose this option if they: 

• Are confident in their ability to keep up with a faster-paced writing class
• Have the ability to balance multiple assignments and due dates at the same time
• Have the ability to work and meet deadlines independently
• Are able to manage high-unit course loads