EMLS 102RClear Communication in English Writing
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Arts
Not in the current Undergraduate Calendar. Shown as it appeared in 2025–26.
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Designed specifically for students for whom English is not the first language, this course offers sentence-level instruction in grammar and idiom to teach students to produce, evaluate, and edit writing under time constraints. It emphasizes readability and error reduction in sentences and paragraphs.
Prerequisites
None listed.
Antirequisites
- Not open to fluent writers of English
Leads to
Reviewed on UW Flow
47% liked it68% easy54% useful
From 58 ratings and 11 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
Absolutely awful course, it does help nothing. Trust me don't take this course, boring lectures are totally waste of time. A bunch of Chinese take this course and they are being satirized by a teacher all the time. If you want to take this course, you are gonna fall sleep as soon as lecture begins.
Dec 2016 · didn’t like it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
The course is ok and not a lot of work, I recommend take it with Pat Skinner she's the nicest person I've ever met
Jul 2025 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
you must attend all the lecture because there are only 20+ students in your class and the prof will remember your name. Grammar is always hard, and it is not easy to get a high mark
May 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
If you see Christa Shuler, run away. Absolutely worst prof ever. Does not explain anything. Rude and intimidating. Very low grades
Feb 2025 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
My prof is Dr. Williams, super super nice prof, really knows his stuff. Would definitely be a useful course if you are not fluent in English.
Nov 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
18 posts and comments in 16 threads mention EMLS 102R, May 2017 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Fall 2024
I have too much courses want to take 4 points, 14 comments
u/Eileen1202: “… Currently, I'm enrolled in MATH 145/137, CS 135, BIOL 130 and EMLS102R. Looked some upper year courses, and PMATH, math+bio, biology and statics all have individual coreques. …”
Spring 2023
Math Regular To Math COOP 1 point, 2 comments
“Im in Math DD Laurier side and want to get into Math COOP. What MAV and CAV is needed to transfer. Does UW treat Math regular students the same as CS regular students as I have heard getting COOP for …”
u/Kassaking777: “1A : MATH135 137, CS115, SCI206,EMLS102R 1B: MATH136 138,CS116/136, ECON101, (STAT230/240) Following this course selection and learning hard (ECON101 SCI206 both have exam bank, use google when needed!). …”
Math - First year electives 3 points, 7 comments
“Hello! I have to select courses for my first year - I will be studying mathematics with co-op and looking forward to major in statistics in second year - and I need some advice from upper year …”
u/Competitive_Tie_165: “… COMMST 223 - Public Speaking EMLS 101R - Oral Communications for Academic Purposes EMLS 102R - Clear Communication in English Writing EMLS 129/ENGL 129R - Written Academic English ENGL 109 - Introduction to Academic Writing I personally took COMMST 223 with Jeff Stacey. …”
which is the easiest english course? 4 points, 4 comments
u/InformationDeep7325: “… (i hate english) COMMST 100 interpersonal communication COMMST 223 Public speaking EMLS 101R Oral communications for academic purposes EMLS 102R clear communication in english writing EMLS 129R/ENGL 129R written academic english ENGL 109 introduction to academic writing”
Winter 2021
Plan your degree! 562 points, 127 comments
“Hey UW, hope you all had an amazing break!!! We are extremely proud to announce the launch of UWPath today! …”
u/2kofawsome: “For CS it has the checklist requirement of 0.5 of list I "EMLS 101R, EMLS 102R, EMLS..." and 0.5 of list II "EMLS 103R, EMLS 104R, EMLS....". But the list II should also contain all of the list I. Great site!”
Fall 2020
got a 60 in 1a communications course 2 points, 6 comments
u/Freeeesy_luuii: “hi I just finished my 1a, and i got a 60 in my emls 102R🥲 i am in math faculty, wondering whether it will affects my future courses😂 because i remember that some courses require communication scores at least 70? or 60? i don't remember. …”
u/uwactscquestion: “If you plan on majoring in actsci or stats, you'll need at least a 70% to take ENGL378/MTHEL300”
u/uwactscquestion: “According to the undergrad calendar, the course requires 70 in one of: EMLS 101R, 102R, EMLS/ENGL 129R, ENGL 109, SPCOM 100, 223 You can just do another course if you want”
Spring 2019
What is the easiest way for me to meet the breath and depth requirements? 2 points, 2 comments
u/uwthrow19: “… Communication List I: At least 60% in one of EMLS 101R, EMLS 102R, EMLS/ENGL 129R, ENGL 109, SPCOM 100, SPCOM 223. …”
Course selection related to communication course for maths students 3 points, 4 comments
“If anyone has an idea abt the (list 1 and list 2) communication courses for Math students? I wanted to ask which is the best communication course to take as I was reading about them? …”
u/ChitandaL: “I would say the experience on communication courses is highly depend on the prof. I took EMLS 102R and its workload was really low.”
ENGL129R vs EMLS101R/102R? 3 points, 3 comments
u/Anon3419200: “Can anyone comment on the difficulty of each course?”
u/dadada32s: “IF you are not particularly interested in English courses and you can take EMLS courses, do yourself a favor and take that. EMLS is for people with English as a second language (at least). …”
u/Anon3419200: “Thanks for your reply. Would you recommend EMLS101R or 102R?”
Winter 2018
Can we take 2 communication list I courses to fulfill communication requirement? 0 points, 9 comments
u/psych101needhelp: “1 Communication list I: At least 60% in one of: EMLS 101R, EMLS 102R, EMLS/ENGL 129R, ENGL 109, SPCOM 100, SPCOM 223 2 Communication list II: At least 60% in one of: EMLS 103R, EMLS 104R, EMLS 110R, ENGL 101A, ENGL 101B, ENGL 108D, ENGL 119, ENGL 251A, SPCOM 225, SPCOM 227, …”
Fall 2017
When to ask prof for a boost? 0 points, 8 comments
“I'm hoping to get a 1-2% boost for MATH 137. When and how should I contact my prof? Thanks.”
u/ikamusume11964: “In 1B I was applying for transferring to coop, and before the mark was out I emailed my EMLS102R prof to see if it is possible to give me an 84 so that I can be more competitive when applying for coop. She didn’t give me an answer, but said that I did well in that course. …”
How hard is ENGL 109? 2 points, 15 comments
“Failed the ELPE, now I'm taking this online during my coop in January. How many hours will I have to put into this course per week?”
u/fuck251: “Don't take it. They bumped the difficulty. It's still not hard but too many dumbass assignments. Also not bird.”
u/mywaterlooaccount: “ENGL 109, ENGL 129R, EMLS 102R, EMLS 129R are the options, 3/4 aren't available for native english speakers source I think it's different for CS”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
- Undergraduate Calendar, 2025–26The archived entry
- Requirements for Fall 2026Waterloo’s requisite checker
- Schedule of Classes, Fall 2026Instructors, rooms, live seats
- Quest Class SearchWhere you enrol
- Course outlinesSyllabi from past terms (UW login)
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Calendar versions
Undergraduate Calendar
- 2020–21
- 2021–22
- 2024–25
- 2025–26 (shown here)
- 2019–20 and earlier on ucalendar