2008 Woodie Awards
Additional Unit for English 1A
John Saiz
Issue date: 4/30/03 Section: News
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When Yuba College students return to class this fall, they'll find a change in one required course. English 1A is changing from a three-unit course to a four-unit course.
There are multiple reasons for this decision, as Composition Coordinator Dr. Sally Harvey explains.
"Our department has noticed that, in this age, it's difficult to teach students all the technical aspects of research that have been created by the availability of the internet," said Harvey. "Also, we've noticed that many students who initially place in English 1A enter that class with certain weaknesses in reading and writing that, in the past, may have been addressed at the high school level."
"This may be due to an increased load on high school instructors who are teaching more students with basic English problems," continued Harvey. "The additional class time will help students to succeed in the course."
Jay Drury, Dean of Language and Fine Arts, talks about the concerns of student preparedness and long-term implications of this on a student's future.
"My understanding is that this was evolved from needing more time to work on English 1A," said Drury, "simply to give more instruction and hopefully improve everyone's writing skills."
"We are always concerned with the level of preparation students come to Yuba College with," continued Drury, "and whether they have to try and catch up on their reading, writing and math skills. It's a big issue for many people, I'm not blaming anybody; it's just a fact. If you ever want to advance beyond an entry level job in the workplace, reading and writing are very important."
With English 1A making the shift from three to four units, Yuba College is joining other California colleges and universities that already offer a four-unit or higher Freshman Composition course. According to the Fall 2002 edition of "Inside English," a statewide journal produced by the English Council of California Two-Year Colleges, 29 of the 108 California Community Colleges already offer four-unit Freshman Composition courses. One community college, Ventura, offers a five-unit Freshman Composition course. Out of the remaining 78 community colleges, 29 of them require four class hours per week for their three-unit freshman composition courses.
There are multiple reasons for this decision, as Composition Coordinator Dr. Sally Harvey explains.
"Our department has noticed that, in this age, it's difficult to teach students all the technical aspects of research that have been created by the availability of the internet," said Harvey. "Also, we've noticed that many students who initially place in English 1A enter that class with certain weaknesses in reading and writing that, in the past, may have been addressed at the high school level."
"This may be due to an increased load on high school instructors who are teaching more students with basic English problems," continued Harvey. "The additional class time will help students to succeed in the course."
Jay Drury, Dean of Language and Fine Arts, talks about the concerns of student preparedness and long-term implications of this on a student's future.
"My understanding is that this was evolved from needing more time to work on English 1A," said Drury, "simply to give more instruction and hopefully improve everyone's writing skills."
"We are always concerned with the level of preparation students come to Yuba College with," continued Drury, "and whether they have to try and catch up on their reading, writing and math skills. It's a big issue for many people, I'm not blaming anybody; it's just a fact. If you ever want to advance beyond an entry level job in the workplace, reading and writing are very important."
With English 1A making the shift from three to four units, Yuba College is joining other California colleges and universities that already offer a four-unit or higher Freshman Composition course. According to the Fall 2002 edition of "Inside English," a statewide journal produced by the English Council of California Two-Year Colleges, 29 of the 108 California Community Colleges already offer four-unit Freshman Composition courses. One community college, Ventura, offers a five-unit Freshman Composition course. Out of the remaining 78 community colleges, 29 of them require four class hours per week for their three-unit freshman composition courses.