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LEARNING SUPPORT ENGLISH AND READING

In accordance with policies of the University System of Georgia, Gordon College offers a Learning Support program. A student's Learning Support requirements are determined on the basis of SAT / ACT scores, college preparatory curriculum deficiencies, and / or college placement exam scores.

The college placement exam, COMPASS, is a computerized placement exam that tests reading, writing, and math skills.

Placement Exams

The verbal section of the COMPASS tests reading and writing skills and is required for students with college preparatory curriculum deficiency in English and for students who do not have a SAT verbal score of 430 or higher or an English ACT score of 17 or higher.

Effective Spring semester 2007: Students scoring below 78 on the reading portion of the COMPASS must enroll in and successfully exit Learning Support Reading by passing the course and scoring 78 or above on the reading portion of the COMPASS.

Students scoring below 65 on the English portion of the COMPASS must enroll in and successfully exit Learning Support English by passing the course and scoring 65 or above on the English portion of the COMPASS.

Course Descriptions

English 0098

English 0098 is designed to help students develop and strengthen the composition skills that are needed to enter English 1101. The course includes assignments in the language-based processes of reading, writing, and discussion, as well as critical thinking. It stresses the rules and conventions of standard written English and provides extensive practice in writing a variety of types of compositions.

Exit Requirements:

Minimum of a C average on course work, passing grade on the Writing Sample Exit, and a satisfactory score on the COMPASS Writing Skills exit test (score must be at least a 65).

Writing Sample Exit:

A student must receive 3 passing essay grades in order to be eligible for the writing sample exit (which in turn, must be passed in order to be eligible for the COMPASS exit test). For the writing sample exit, the student must write a 4 or 5 paragraph essay focusing on criteria such as addressing the topic and staying on the topic, proper development of introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs, and correct grammar usage. Exit sample graders include the learning support faculty and the English department. Two attempts are given the eligible students (those who have maintained a "C" average, have passed 3 in-class essay papers, and have satisfactory attendance).

Reading 0098

Reading 0098 is designed to develop the reading and study skills essential for success in college. Specific goals include the development of vocabulary, comprehension, reading retention, and study skills.

Objectives / Topics

This course is designed to develop the reading and study skills essential for success in college. Specific goals include the development of vocabulary, comprehension, reading retention, and study skills.

English 0090 and Reading 0090

English 0090 and Reading 0090 are equivalent to ENGL 0098 and READ 0098, but are only students for whom English is a second language (ESL) may enroll. ESL students must take the ESL version of the COMPASS test for placement and exit, and the scoring information is provided in the table above. Otherwise, standards for these courses match those for ENGL 0098 and READ 0098.

COMPASS Exit Test

Learning support English students and reading students who have met the class expectations will be eligible for the COMPASS exit tests, given at the end of each semester. The LS English student must score a minimum of 65 and the reading student a minimum of 78 in order to exit from the learning support class(es). Two attempts are allowed (within the COMPASS exit time frame at the end of the semester).

Resources

• http://www.act.org/compass/index.html
• http://www.daltonstate.edu/faculty/mnielsen/WritingLab.html

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