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16 January 2012
Foundational English classes set the bar for writing in college and beyond.
Ever since the age of 6, writing has consumed my world -- from my first short story stapled in a paper booklet to a leather-bound journal to the black-and-white print of my first research essay.
However, other students might not possess the same passion toward English composition I do.
During college, every student is required to take or test out of these two general education classes: English Composition I and English Composition II.
At the Missouri Baptist University campus, I have observed the varying writing skills of incoming students.
Recently, after reading several improperly cited essays when assisting a professor with grading, the importance of these entry-level classes came to my attention.
Citing correctly is similar to attributing someone’s work in the job field, so this composition skill applies beyond the collegiate environment.
“English composition classes are important in learning to write correctly, to cite correctly and to make yourself look successful for the rest of your life,” said Dr. Jo Ann Miller, a professor of English at MBU.
As stated in the course description on the MBU website, English Composition I develops “skills in writing prose acceptable in academics and in the professions, with emphasis on grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, paragraph development, the writing process, and patterns of essay development.”
This class forms the basics of writing for the college student.
“In some ways, Composition I is more important than Composition II because it’s essential and basic, foundational for writing in the academic community and for any practical job,” said Kelly Leavitt, writing lab coordinator and part-time professor of English.
Knowing the basic components of writing, such as formation of sentences, word choice, thesis formation and organization, will create a solid foundation for any type of writing: business emails, journalistic articles, creative stories or poems, scholarly journal articles and scientific reports.
English Composition II also delves into skills of critical thinking, analysis, evaluation and time management by students thinking of solutions to a two-sided issue, scrutinizing the minute details of a literary work, assessing a campus play or event and creating a schedule to write a 10-page research essay.
These skills translate to upper-level classes and to the job field. Employers will judge prospective employees based on these applicable skills.
Moreover, if a resume contained the sentence, “I make your company good by providing it with good skills,” the employer would toss away the resume because of the lack of proper grammar.
Strong writing skills will cause businesses to look at that person as an educated, respectable individual while unclear, incorrectly phrased language connotes laziness.
Composition classes provide many uses for the academic and professional world, but their main purposes lay in instilling the basics of writing into students' minds and helping students find their niche in the writing world.
Elizabeth Busekrus is a senior majoring in English. Busekrus is a reporter for Timeline Online.
Email: ebusekrus@yahoo.com