English Department

English Basic Skill Levels (reading and writing)

Eligibility for English 301 (Completion of English 321, Fundamentals of Writing, or other appropriate means of establishing eligibility)

(or ENSL 330/430) 

Students have demonstrated the ability to:   

1.     Use free-writing and other strategies to generate ideas and overcome writer’s block

2.     Write reader-response journal entries

3.     Compose simple paragraphs in response to prompts that call for standard writing modes

4.     Revise those paragraphs using basic grammar skills

NOTE: Students who are eligible for ENGL 301(completion of ENGL 321 and 322)  are usually writing at the 4^th through 7^th grade level.

Eligibility for English 302 (Completion of English 322, Fundamentals of Reading, or other appropriate means of establishing eligibility)

(or ENSL 335/435) 

Students have demonstrated the ability to:

1.     Locate main idea (stated or implied) of a paragraph

2.     Recognize major and minor supporting details of a paragraph

3.     Locate answers to specific content questions about a paragraph

4.     Paraphrase a complex sentence and summarize a paragraph

5.     Demonstrate previewing, annotating, and highlighting strategies

6.     Map and outline a paragraph

7.     Use context clues and word parts to derive meaning of unknown words

NOTE: Students who are eligible for ENGL 302 (completion of ENGL 321 and 322) are usually reading at the 4^th through 7^th grade level.

Eligibility for English 111 (Completion of English 301, Introduction to Academic Writing, or other appropriate means of establishing eligibility)

(or ENSL 342; or ENSL 343 & 344)

Students have demonstrated the ability to:

1.     Understand and put to use the writing process, from prewriting to proofreading

2.     Write well-organized, well-developed paragraphs with relevant details and different patterns of organization

3.     Write well-organized, well-developed papers using the essay form with clearly stated thesis statements and relevant support, selecting from appropriate rhetorical writing modes

4.     Start to write analysis

5.     Choose words appropriate to the topic and audience

6.     Use a dictionary and thesaurus for editing, proofreading, and vocabulary

7.     Edit writing using grammar and usage skills.

8.     Recognize academic writing assignments and situations and be able to respond accordingly using the essay form

NOTE: Students who are eligible for ENGL 111 (completion of ENGL 301 and 302) are usually writing at the 8^th through 9^th grade level.

Eligibility for English 112 (Completion of English 302, Introduction to Academic Reading, or other appropriate means of establishing eligibility)

(or ENSL 342; or ENSL 343 & 344)

Students have demonstrated the ability to:

1.     Recognize thesis, stated or implied, of an essay

2.     Recognize transitions and patterns in paragraphs

3.    Recognize transitions and patterns in longer readings

4.    Outline or map a paragraph or longer reading

5.    Summarize an essay

6.    Use previewing, annotating, and highlighting strategies

7.    Determine meaning of words by using context clues or word parts

8.   Start to use critical reading strategies  

Note: Students who are eligible for ENGL 111 (completion of ENGL 301 and 302) are usually reading at the 8^th through 9^th grade level.

Eligibility for English 1A in writing (Completion of English 111, Intermediate Academic Writing, or other appropriate means of establishing eligibility)

(or ENSL 110)

Students have demonstrated the ability to:

1.     Use critical thinking skills to interpret, summarize and analyze a variety of texts

2.    Apply knowledge of various evaluation strategies in an essay

3.    Employ research strategies and analytical skills, including comparative, causal and argumentative approaches, when constructing and writing essays

4.    Develop skills in planning, preparation and responsibility for meeting college-level expectations for writing

Note: Students who are eligible for ENGL 1A (completion of ENGL 111 and an advisory of ENGL 112) are usually writing at the 10^th to 12^th grade level.

Eligibility for English 1A in reading (Completion of English 112, Intermediate Academic Reading, or other appropriate means of establishing eligibility)

(or ENSL 155)

Students have demonstrated the ability to:

1.     Recognize main ideas and theses in complex essays

2.     Recognize major and minor supporting ideas in complex essays

3.     Evaluate evidence in terms of dependability, relevance, and    

        sufficiency

4.     Detect bias and identify logical fallacies in a reading

5.     Identify authors’ purpose and interpret metaphorical language

6.     Evaluate a website

7.    Develop skills in planning, preparation and responsibility for meeting college-level expectations for reading

Note: Students who are eligible for ENGL 1A (completion of ENGL 111 and and advisory of ENGL 112)  are usually reading at the 10th to 12th grade level.