Chloe Chidester
\nIn Motion Staff Writer<\/p>\n
The School of Humanities and Communication has worked hard to supply Daytona State College students with tools they need to pass ENC 1101, a composition core class that is required for any program at DSC.<\/p>\n
To that end, two new courses were introduced during the B-term, fall semester after faculty and administrators spent many months developing them and new approaches to learning.<\/p>\n
Because of changes created by Senate Bill 1720, the College adjusted its placement testing requirements. Due to the new state law, students are no longer required to take placement tests if they graduated high school in Florida or if they are active duty in the U.S. Armed Services. If a student does not fall into these categories, they may be required to take DSC placement tests, which determine whether or not a student is ready to perform at college level. Students who are not exempt from the placement tests might still be required to complete preparatory development work.<\/p>\n
In cases where the student performs under the college level, DSC has implemented Developmental Education courses to bring individuals up to the standard necessary for their official college courses. At the same time, when the State of Florida mandated that Dev-Ed courses be compressed, so they are only 8 weeks long, it created a problem for students.<\/p>\n
They either have to take the 8-week course and then dive straight into ENC 1101, or they have to take the Dev-Ed course, wait eight weeks and then enroll in ENC 1101 for the next semester.<\/p>\n
Thankfully, the School of Humanities and Communication came up with a better idea. To work their way around the 8-week battle, students are able to take a reading comprehension course or an English grammar and composition course. These new courses are developed to help students understand and apply the English language not only in ENC 1101, but in all of their classes as well. <\/p>\n
Although not every course at DSC has a Gordon Rule requirement, these classes help most students throughout their college career.<\/p>\n
These courses, unlike the Dev-Ed classes, are for college credit. Dr. Evan Rivers, Chair of the School of Humanities and Communication, believes that if a student gets a recommendation to take Dev Ed classes, they should do so for the sake of their education. Before trying ENC1100, for those students who need the extra instruction, taking and passing these classes will give them a better chance of succeeding. As one of the key players in the development of REA 1105 Critical Reading Techniques and LIN 1670 English Grammar, Usage and Composition, Dr. Rivers says, \u201cThese are courses that will teach essential skills that will be of value in all of their subsequent studies.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents don\u2019t want to take a course that\u2019s \u2018optional\u2019,\u201d says Dr. Rivers. Students, especially those with financial aid, who only have a limited amount of credits they can take, are reluctant to take a class that is not required. Even if they fail the first time, some student will re-enroll in the same class thinking they know what to expect and how to pass because they have already taken it before.<\/p>\n
Educators, and especially writing professors, remind such students that there is no end-run around a good education. Reading, and reading a lot, is essential to becoming an adequate, much less an accomplished writer.<\/p>\n
Associate Professor and Assistant Chair of the School of Humanities and Communication, Elizabeth Barnes is convinced that REA 1105 and LIN 1670 could benefit every student.<\/p>\n
\u201cStudents who have trouble writing often have trouble reading. If you don\u2019t understand what you\u2019re reading, you can\u2019t effectively write about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jeri Higuera, a nursing student, agrees.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think there would definitely be people who would want to take these classes. Probably a lot of the older students because it\u2019s been longer since high school for them. Or people who feel like they really struggle with writing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another incentive is that they should be a help to foreign exchange students seeking a better grasp of the English language.<\/p>\n
\u201cA successful student isn\u2019t just a good student. He doesn\u2019t just do the work, he\u2019s also someone who can navigate academic and professional culture,\u201d Professor Barnes says.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo function properly in academic and professional circles, students must first be able to articulate themselves in a way that makes sense to all involved. This starts, first and foremost, with being well-read and ends with being able to express themselves correctly.<\/p>\n
As of Spring 2015, REA 1105 and LIN 1670 are being offered as both full term and B-term classes, in hopes of garnering more attention from students. Early into Spring registration there are three sections of LIN 1670, one each in Daytona, Deltona and Palm Coast with a total of 20 students and one section of REA 1105 in Daytona with nine students.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Chloe Chidester In Motion Staff Writer The School of Humanities and Communication has worked hard to supply Daytona State College students with tools they need to pass ENC 1101, a composition core class that is required for any program at DSC. To that end, two new courses were introduced during Continue reading New courses ease road to successful reading, writing skills<\/span>