Developmental Writing Program at Eastern Kentucky University
The Developmental Education Program at Eastern Kentucky University
helps students achieve their maximum potential and enhances their chances for
academic success by providing opportunities for skill development through courses
and programs designed to improve basic skills in writing, reading, and mathematics.
Courses in the Developmental Program include ENG 090 (Basic Writing), ENG 095
(Developmental Composition), ENR 090 (Developmental Reading I), ENR 095 (Developmental
Reading II), MAT 090 (Pre-algebra), and MAT 095 (Developmental Algebra 1). These
courses are offered through the Department of English and Theatre and the Department
of Mathematics and Statistics.
The University measures basic proficiencies in writing, reading, and mathematics
by student performance on the ACT, SAT and EKU placement tests. Placement in,
and successful completion of, developmental courses is required of students
who do not demonstrate proficiency in the basic skill areas. Students taking
developmental classes receive institutional credit. That is, credit hours earned
in developmental courses do not apply toward graduation, but they do count toward
enrollment status for such purposes as financial aid eligibility and full-time
student status.
The English section of the ACT is used to determine placement in the appropriate-level
composition course. The following guidelines have been established.
- ACT English score 01-14 - placement in ENG 090
- ACT English score 15-17 - placement in ENG 095
- ACT English score 18-27 or a sum of the SAT verbal/critical reading and mathematics score 870 - basic writing skills are assumed and students
are placed in ENG 101 (English Composition I)
- ACT English score 28 or above - basic writing skills are assumed and students are placed in ENG 105 (English Composition Honors)
For more information about the Developmental Education Program at Eastern Kentucky
University, visit the Developmental Education webpage at www.developmentaleducation.eku.edu/
The Developmental Writing Program
The Developmental Writing Program is administered through the Department of
English and Theatre, and coordinated through the Developmental Education Committee,
currently chaired by Dr. David Elias. Feel free to contact him with questions
about the program: Case Annex 457, 622-2118, david.elias@eku.edu.
For ENG course descriptions go to the Department of English and Theatre web
page at: http://www.english.eku.edu/courses.php.
The Developmental Writing Program focuses on helping students become critical
and analytical writers. The program emphasizes reading, discussing, and composing
academic texts. Students are taught strategies for reading and writing analytically
and critically, and provided with opportunities to develop skills that allow
them to perform academic writing tasks.
Course Objectives: The Department of English and Theatre adopted
a new strategic plan for 2006-2010 (http://www.oie.eku.edu/spc). Part of the
planning process included the formulation of the following objectives for developmental
writing. Instructors must include these objectives in course syllabi:
General education goals addressed by this course:
- Communicate effectively by applying skills in reading, writing, speaking,
and listening and through appropriate use of information technology.
- Use appropriate methods of critical thinking and quantitative reasoning
to examine issues and to identify solutions.
- Distinguish the methods that underlie the search for knowledge in the arts,
humanities, natural sciences, history, and social and behavioral sciences.
- Integrate knowledge that will deepen their understanding of, and will inform
their own choices about, issues of personal and public importance.
Specific course goals and objectives:
(from the New Century Handbook's EKU pages)
- Practice in writing processes
- Completion of assigned compositions
- Demonstrated competence in designated traits of writing (these traits are
listed in the Handbook on pages 1-v to1-vi)
Key Performance Indicator and Criterion: 75% of students who take the
ENG 095 final exam will pass the exam and the course.
Best Practices: Follow this link to see recommendations from
KADE for "Best Practices for Developmental Education Faculty Training":
Follow this link to read a report (PDF format) on the preparation of Kentucky's
developmental students: http://cpe.ky.gov/committees/develop_ed
For resources, including bibliographies of selected books and articles about
developmental writing, see the following websites:
These represent only a small sampling of what is available, but if you follow
each of the above, you'll see they overlap to a great extent.
For a wealth of teaching resources from EKU's Teaching and Learning Center
click on:
http://www.tlc.eku.edu/tips/
Syllabi: All instructors are required to include a number of
items in the course syllabus: for the university policy on syllabi go to:
http://www.universityprograms.eku.edu/facultyhandbook/PART5.php#syllabus
Additionally, developmental courses must include developmental education policies:
follow this link to sample syllabi for ENG 090 and ENG 095. Click here to see
a template for the syllabus. Be sure to include your EKU e-mail address and
office address under personal information. Course syllabi should be distributed
to each student during the first class period.
You may review all the Developmental Education Program policies at http://www.developmentaleducation.eku.edu/
For the academic calendar go to http://www.eku.edu/compass/
Textbooks: Faculty members are free to choose the textbook/s
for the ENG courses, although the Developmental Writing Coordinator does select
default textbooks each year. These texts are chosen for their explicit instruction
in and practice of active reading strategies. The default texts for AY 2006-2007
are:
ENG 090 Choices: A Basic Writing Guide with Readings 4th edition,
by Kate Mangelsdorf and Evelyn Posey
ENG 095 American Voices, by Dolores LaGuardia and Hans Guth
To get copies of these texts contact Ginny Hunt, Senior Office Associate in
the Department of English and Theatre, Case Annex 467, 622-2093, or ginny.hunt@eku.edu
If you are interested in considering other texts, various faculty members,
including the Developmental Writing Coordinator, have exam copies of many texts:
contact one of them to look at other options, or you may contact book publishers
and request exam copies. If you would like to suggest textbooks for consideration
by the committee, please contact the Developmental Writing Coordinator. The
Department of English and Theatre notifies all faculty when textbook orders
are due (generally mid-spring for fall semester and mid- fall for spring semester).
Representing diverse perspectives: An important criterion
in the selection of textbooks and supplementary reading materials is that they
value diverse points of view. Instructors are encouraged to acknowledge and
value students' diverse backgrounds by choosing texts that represent a variety
of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Every syllabus
must include the following standardized statement from the Office of Services
for Individuals with Disabilities (OSID):
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: If you are registered with the
Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities, please make an appointment
with course instructor to discuss any academic accommodations you need. If you
need academic accommodations and are not registered with the Office of Services
for Individuals with Disabilities, please contact the office on the third floor
of the Student Services Building, by email at disserv@eku.edu or by telephone
at (859) 622-2933 V/TDD. Upon individuals request, this syllabus can be made
available in alternate forms.
Students who have registered with the OSID will present instructors with a
form from OSID requesting the necessary accommodations. Instructors are required
to make these accommodations. Any questions should be directed to Teresa Belluscio,
Assistant Director of OSID, SSB 315, 622- 2933 or teresa.belluscio@eku.edu.
Attendance Policy: All ENG courses at the 100 and 200 levels
must comply with the Department of English and Theatre attendance policy and
must include this attendance policy on the syllabus. This policy is included
in all instructors' Blackboard course sites. You may also access the policy
on the department web site at: http://www.english.eku.edu/attendance_policy.doc
Placement: any questions or concerns about the appropriate
placement of students in ENG courses should be addressed to Sue Cain, Director
of Transition and University Services, SSB 326, 622-2306, sue.cain@eku.edu
Final Exam:
A common, departmental final exam is given to students enrolled in ENG 090 and
095 courses. The Developmental Writing Coordinator develops the exam each semester
and welcomes input from all ENG instructors. If you would like to look at copies
of past exams and use them as practice exams with your students, click here
[check back for link].
The final exam is given during the last two hours of class during the last week
of scheduled classed. Use the final exam period during finals week to meet with
your students to discuss the results.
To satisfactorily pass ENG 090 and 095 students must:
- comply with the departmental attendance policy
- earn a C (70%) or better in the course
- pass the final exam
Standards of Achievement: students who complete the Developmental
Writing Program should have the writing skills and ability to succeed in college
level courses. The final exam provides one standard of achievement.
A guide for English and writing standards expected by post-secondary institutions
in Kentucky is available at http://cpe.ky.gov/policies/academicpolicies/admissions
A new report by the Carnegie Corporation of New York includes analyses of current
literacy and recommendations for increasing literacy skills and is a useful
resource for developmental writing instructors. http://www.all4ed.org/publications/ReadingNext/ReadingNext.pdf
Faculty Support: Resources for new faculty may be accessed
through EKU's Teaching and Learning Center at: http://www.tlc.eku.edu/new/
The Department of English and Theatre sponsors forums and CIVIC lunches a couple
of times per year for an informal sharing of ideas related to teaching and faculty
life. These are announced via the department listserv over the EKU e-mail account.
The Developmental Writing Coordinator, currently David Elias, is also available
to suggest resources or to share ideas about teaching in the Developmental Writing
Program. He can also assist you with being matched with a mentor, arranging
peer observation, and with information about professional development opportunities.
Contact him at: Case Annex 457, 622-2118 or david.elias@eku.edu.
For other concerns, questions, and suggestions about the Department's writing
courses and policies, you may contact Dr. Kenkel, the current Writing Coordinator
at 622-3177 or jim.kenkel@eku.edu.
