First-Year Writing Program
Purpose
First-year writing courses at Southern University and A&M College are intended to provide students with skills essential to succeed in their undergraduate education. Writing in multiple modes, students learn to articulate and respond to arguments in context for a variety of audiences.
Coursework
All undergraduates are required to take the two-semester sequence of first-year writing: SENL 101B and SENL 102B. For students whose test scores indicate a need for further support, the English Department offers ENGL 090B, a prerequisite preparatory course intended to aid students in developing writing skills before taking the first semester of the writing sequence. As an alternative to the prerequisite course, support is also offered in the form of corequisite coursework which can support SENL 101B during the same semester. While the completed SENL 101B with a minimum grade of C counts toward graduation credit for English Composition, ENGL 090B counts toward elective credit.
Course Descriptions
ENGL 100B | COREQUISITE ENGLISH (Credit, 5 hours)
This class is a combination of Developmental English and Freshman Composition I. Emphasis on writing as a learning, thinking process. Discussion of and practice in strategies used in prewriting, writing, and revising expressive, informative, analytical, and argumentative essays. Special sections designated for honors students.
SENL 101B | FRESHMAN COMPOSITION I (Credit, 3 hours)
Emphasis on writing as a learning, thinking process. Discussion of and practice in strategies used in prewriting, writing, and revising expressive, informative, analytical and argumentative essays. Special sections designated for honors students.
SENL 102B | FRESHMAN COMPOSITION II (Credit, 3 hours)
Emphasis on teaching students to write multi-paragraph essays utilizing standard English. These expository essays will clearly state, logically develop, and adequately support one idea. Strategies learned in SENL 101B in prewriting, writing, and revising essays will be reemphasized. Special sessions will be devoted to writing a documented paper. Prerequisite: SENL 101B.
NOTE ON COMPOSITION SECTIONS:
Each section will focus on the same goals but will differ based on individual instructor decisions about assignments and readings. Students in SENL 101B and 102B will have the opportunity to compete in a recurring essay contest sponsored by the English Department. Past winners have won prize money and have been included in the textbook for the class.
Composition Textbook
The textbook for SENL 101B and 102B is a text created by faculty specifically for first-year students to use. The text is the following: English and Philosophy Program, Southern University and A&M College. SUBR English Composition Handbook: English 101/102. Hayden-McNeil/Macmillan, 2020 (E-book).
The editor of this text, Dr. Ali Rezaie, and associate editors, Dr. April Toadvine and Dr. Christine Jeansonne, developed the text with the goal of providing students at Southern University with specific instructions and models of each mode of writing they will develop in their two-semester course sequence.
Evaluation and Assessment
At the end of the two-semester sequence, students in SENL 102B take the Writing Proficiency Exam (WPE) to show that they have reached proficiency in crafting arguments—in other words, making and supporting a thesis-based claim about a topic. For information about the exam, contact Dr. Rasheedah Jenkins, WPE Coordinator, at rasheedah.jenkins@sus.edu.
Transfers
Students who have taken composition coursework at other institutions should be sure that the credits have transferred by checking with the Registrar. A Transfer Course Evaluation Form, available on the Registrar’s webpage, must be completed and submitted, along with related documents, to the department chair for evaluation and approval before turning it in to the Registrar’s office. Transfer students who have already taken the equivalent of both courses elsewhere still need to take the WPE as a graduation requirement, and they should check with the WPE coordinator Dr. Rasheedah Jenkins to schedule it.
Support for First-Year Writers
The English Department's Writing Den supports students in the first-year writing program. Located in Harris Hall, room 2008, the Writing Den offers helpful tutoring sessions both in person and virtually.
- Visit the Writing Den website for more information, including the tutoring schedule and booking an appointment with a writing tutor.
- Contact the Director of the Writing Den, Jesus Avila, at jesus.avila@sus.edu.
- Contact the Writing Den at writingden@subr.edu.
Evolution of the Program
During quality enhancement work at Southern University, first-year composition students were identified as particularly vulnerable and in need of resources to aid in successful course completion. As a result, the program has developed by adding more flexibility and resources for students. The addition of corequisite coursework and the development of the Writing Den as a resource for first-year writers are the start of a process intended to help students succeed as writers in their time at Southern University.