In fall 2012, UNC began mandating that all incoming students take the same composition class — English 105 or English 105i. This class was introduced in place of the introductory level English 101 and 102 classes traditionally taken by students to fulfill the Composition and Rhetoric general education credit.
But why should one class — or, for that matter, the English department — monopolize the CR credit?
Plenty of other courses, including introductions to political science, environment and society and many first year seminars, assign rigorous essays that require competency in composition.
No longer requiring ENGL 105 or 105i would free up credit hours and allow greenhorn freshmen to pursue their passions early on, all while teaching them to put together a well-researched essay.
Jane Danielewicz, associate director of UNC’s Writing Program and an associate professor, claimed in an undergraduate admissions blog in 2012 that “having advanced coursework in English language or literature is not adequate or equivalent preparation for success,” referring to Advance Placement classes.
