Expectations in ENGL 90
ENGL 90
ENGL 90 is the most basic-level English course at Bates. This course is designed to be a developmental writing course emphasizing foundational English sentence and paragraph skills with attention to reflective reading, vocabulary, grammar, and mechanics. This means that there is a focus on reading, on studying proper sentence construction, and on practicing writing short themes while using correct, standard English sentences, a broad vocabulary, and organized paragraphs.
ENGL 90 Sample Reading and Reading Questions
The following sample passage represents the level of reading comprehension expected in ENGL 90. Please read this passage and consider the questions that follow:
Sample Reading:
“So why try to predict the future at all if it’s so difficult, so nearly impossible? Because making predictions is one way to give warning when we see ourselves drifting in dangerous directions. Because prediction is a useful way of pointing out safer, wiser courses. Because, most of all, our tomorrow is the child of our today. Through thought and deed, we exert a great deal of influence over this child, even though we can’t control it absolutely. Best to think about it, though. Best to try to shape it into something good. Best to do that for any child.”
– Octavia E. Butler “A Few Rules for Predicting the Future”
Sample Reading Questions:
- Why does Butler call tomorrow “the child of our today?”
- Why does Butler begin three sentences with the word “because?”
- What does Butler mean by the words “courses” and “exert” in this paragraph?
Reflection Question
If you were given this reading and these questions as an in-class activity, which statement best describes your confidence level with this reading sample and questions.
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- I would be very confident in completing the reading and could answer the questions.
- I would be somewhat confident in completing the reading and answering the questions.
- I would be less confident in completing the reading and answering the questions and would ask for some additional help with this activity
- It would be very difficult for me to complete this reading and answer the questions. I would definitely require some extra help with this activity.
ENGL 90 Sample Writing
The following student writing sample represents the level of writing that is expected of ENGL 90 students. Please read the following paragraph and consider the questions that follow:
Student Writing Sample:
“Reading for pleasure is an effective way to create a world in which anything can happen for you. Before I started reading for pleasure, I did not have many goals or plans, at least not outside of what is expected, such as graduating, getting a job, and moving out on my own. Now that I do read for pleasure, I often think about what I want to do with my future and about the decisions I should make. In ten years, I imagine myself traveling around the world if everything works out. To get to the point where I can travel around the world, I have made it a goal to complete my associate’s degree.”
Reflection Question:
How confident are you that, if given this activity as an assignment, you would be able to write a paragraph of your own, about this size, that explains something about your choices and goals?
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- I would be very confident in completing this writing assignment with little or no help
- I would be somewhat confident in completing this writing assignment but may need some help.
- I would be less confident in completing this writing assignment and would ask for some additional help with parts of this activity.
- It would be very difficult for me to complete this this writing assignment. I would definitely require some extra help with this activity.
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