Today we are delighted to feature an interview with Dr. Jane Danielewicz, Hiskey Distinguished Professor in Research and Undergraduate Teaching, Associate Professor of English, and Director of the Writing Program. She will discuss the University’s new requirement for ENG 105/105i, which will be required for all entering students in Fall 2012.Why introduce this new requirement?
We’re excited about this new offering because we believe that one college-level writing course devoted to writing, research, and oral communication can usefully extend students’ prior preparation, help them succeed in college courses, prepare them for collaborative work, and permit them to practice disciplinary ways of thinking and communicating by writing in genres that previously may not have been available to them. This requirement is also consistent with practices at other major universities—Penn State, Stanford, and Michigan, among others.
Can you share more about the curriculum?
The curriculum is designed to give students practice in many of the skills and techniques that professional researchers use to collect, organize, analyze, and present their research findings. Students will have the opportunity to conduct their own research in these fields and to compose their own examples of the genres that professionals use to communicate their research findings. Additionally, students will also be encouraged to submit their work for consideration to an undergraduate research publication or conference.
Furthermore, some sections of ENGL 105 will be designated as “research exposure” courses. Students who are interested in participating in the Carolina Research Scholar Program (sponsored by the Office for Undergraduate Research) can fulfill one (and potentially two) requirements by taking one of these ENGL 105 sections. We anticipate offering 8-10 of these “research exposure” sections.
What is the difference between ENG 105 and 105i? All students may take ENGL 105 or ENGL 105i. However, ENGL 105 is a multidisciplinary course, while ENG 105i focuses on a single disciplinary area, including writing in law, writing in humanities, writing in health and medicine, writing in social sciences, writing in business, and writing in natural sciences. These sections are especially suited for students who already have an idea of their intended major or have well-defined long-term professional goals in a particular field such as medicine or business. These courses will be available in each term during the academic year.
What if I’m in Honors?
Honors students will be offered priority registration (through Honors Carolina) in ENGL 105i courses. While honors students may prefer specialized courses, they are not required to enroll in ENGL 105i; they may be interested in a multidisciplinary approach and enroll in ENGL 105 instead.
When will the course be offered?
Sections of ENGL 105 and 105i will be offered each semester in equal numbers, 50% in fall and 50% in spring. ENGL 105 (but not ENGL 105i) will be offered in the summer term as well. Students are required to complete the ENGL 105/105i requirement during their first year at Carolina. Ideally students should enroll in ENGL 105/105i during their first semester if seats are available. Students may complete the Critical Reading (CR) requirement during the first academic year (not semester) on campus.
Will you still offer ENGL 100?
Yes. ENGL 100 will still be offered in summer and fall semesters (not the spring semester) for those students whose academic records indicate they would benefit from additional literacy instruction. The curriculum for ENGL 100 will be revised to help bridge students to ENGL 105. Students will be expected to enroll in ENGL 105 the semester immediately following completion of ENGL 100. The placement score for ENG 100 is unchanged. Eligible students include those with an SAT writing score of 460 or below, an ACT score of 19 or below, or an AP Language score of 1 or 2.
Will transfer students be expected to fulfill this requirement?
Transfer students from North Carolina community colleges who come to Carolina under the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement will receive credit for ENGL 105, as will transfer students who have taken one comparable three-credit course at another institution, as determined by the transfer tables maintained by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Transfer students who are not able to transfer in a comparable course must take ENGL 105.
What about current students or those who enter in the spring?
Currently enrolled students and students admitted in spring 2012 fall under the CR Foundations requirement in place when they entered Carolina; the new CR Foundations requirement does not apply to them. Therefore, students entering prior to fall 2012 must complete ENGL 101/102 (and 100, if their placement scores indicated a need for the course).
Most students entering in fall 2011 (or earlier) should be on track to complete ENGL 102 in spring 2012. Those who placed into ENGL 100 in fall 2011 should take ENGL 101 in spring 2012 and ENGL 105 in fall 2012. ENGL 102/102i will be inactivated, effective with the fall 2012 semester, to avoid confusion.
May I exempt this requirement? I have completed advanced coursework in English language or literature.
No. ENGL 105 is a required course for all incoming students. Since ENGL 105 prepares students to research and communicate in a range of disciplines, including natural and social sciences, having advanced coursework in English language or literature is not adequate or equivalent preparation for success.
However, students who score a 4 or 5 on the AP Language and Composition exam will receive 3 BE (by exam) credits for ENGL 110 English Language and Composition. These will be general credits toward graduation and do not fulfill any specific course requirement for graduation. ENGL 110 does not substitute for the required ENGL 105/105i.
Where may I learn more?
Please visit the Department of English and Comparative Literature’s Writing Program's website.
