English Prairie State College Experiments with Structure and Curriculum

Before 2005… English credit hours Reading credit hours

The new English 099 English credit hours Reading credit hours English credit hours (writing + critical inquiry)

The new English 099 English 099 – 6 credit hour course Combines instruction in writing with instruction in critical inquiry/reading Often team-taught by two instructors Placement based on writing sample

The results PROS Higher levels of intellectual engagement and excitement among students and faculty High-interest texts for discussion Reading in the context of writing, writing in the context of reading

The results CONS 6 credit hours is a long time and eats up financial aid Students who dont need Reading instruction have to take full course

099 learning communities English credit hours (writing + critical inquiry) Gen Ed (Psych, Bio, Sociology, Business) 3-4 credit hours

The results PROS Specific intellectual context Motivation of credit-bearing course CONS Difficulty enrolling enough students high school feel

The new new English 099 English credit hours (writing + critical inquiry) English credit hours (writing only) Gen Ed (Psych, Bio, Sociology, Business) 3-4 credit hours English 101 (transfer course) English credit hours (writing only) 1 2 3

The new new English 099 English credit hours (writing + critical inquiry) Same as beforeteam-taught, same curriculum BUT only students who need instruction in both writing and Reading

The new new English 099 English credit hours (writing only) Gen Ed (Psych, Bio, Sociology, Business) 3-4 credit hours Learning communities model…

The new new English 099 English 101 (transfer course) 8 students + 16 students English credit hours (writing only) 8 students Accelerated model

For more information and conversation…