Basic writing courses help students who may lag behind their peers due to inadequate preparation, cognitive impairments, or being non-native English speakers. Instructors cover the fundamentals of formal written English and offer support to develop skills. These courses are not considered remedial education and support non-traditional students.
Basic writing is the cultivation of written communication skills in students who may lag behind their peers for a variety of reasons. Specifically, the focus of this course is generally on unprepared undergraduates in their first year of college who may need help developing their writing skills. A number of theorists began to develop approaches to teaching basic writing in the 1970s in the United States, as college attendance began to increase and many colleges and universities faced a flood of English language students who did not have the same skills as their peers. .
Some students receive inadequate college-level English preparation in their secondary schools, especially in disadvantaged districts. Other students may need some basic writing courses due to cognitive impairments that impair their ability to acquire and retain information in high school. These students may benefit from guidance and assistance from a disability specialist. Students of English as a foreign language may also need a writing course if they don’t have extensive experience with formal written English.
In Basic Writing Courses, instructors cover English from the beginning, discussing the fundamentals of formal written English. They help their students develop skills and build on them. Over time, students can produce increasingly complex written pieces, including multifaceted arguments, responses to readings, and other tasks. Tutoring in a writing class can also include office hours, lab time, and other support to encourage students to develop and refine their skills.
Basic literacy skills are required in such classes; students must be able to read and write and need a basic understanding of English spelling and grammar. Some adult literacy programs may offer advanced training in basic writing to prepare their students for success in the outside world. At colleges and universities, tests can help determine appropriate placement in first-year composition courses, from entry-level classes to more advanced courses for students with the necessary skills.
Terms such as “remedial education” are no longer widely used for this type of English teaching because of their negative associations. Rather than emphasizing that students are handicapped and in need of further education, the focus is on developing skills to help students catch up with peers who may be more advantaged. These courses also support non-traditional students who may need to juggle work schedules and life necessities, such as childcare issues, in order to attend college. These students may want to take a basic writing class early on their return to college as a refresher on formal English writing skills.
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