Developmental Writing, Reading, and Composition

Subjects

• Developmental Reading

  Reading courses at JJC are designed to promote your success in academic reading by increasing your efficiency with textbook and learning strategies, improving your perception of key elements of text, expanding your vocabulary through application of word parts, and by improving your ability to construct meaning through direct instruction with reading comprehension practice with traditional and digital texts.

  Students enrolling in any of the English department’s reading courses will learn how to critically read by focusing on such skills as understanding inferences, patterns of organization, supporting details, and reading comprehension strategies of expert readers.

  Proficient reading skills support life-long learning for both work and personal development. Enrolling in any of the developmental reading courses offered at JJC will help students form the foundations to develop these sought-after skills. Successful completion of these courses will lead students toward the college’s composition sequence (ENG 101 and 102).

• Developmental Writing

  Developmental Writing courses introduce students to fundamental English writing skills, including composition, and critical thinking. Emphasis is placed on effective sentence skills, paragraph development, and essay-level skills, as well as rhetorical and mechanical proficiency.

  Students enrolling in courses in the developmental writing sequence (ENG 098 and ENG 099) will develop skills in sentence, paragraph, and essay writing. ENG 098 introduces students to the basics of sentence skills and paragraph development, while ENG 099 focuses on paragraph and essay development. Upon successful completion of these courses, students will be eligible to pursue the college’s composition sequence of courses.

  Students enrolling in any of the English department’s developmental writing courses will learn grammatical accuracy, the steps of the writing process, close reading skills, and presentation of writing to college audiences. In addition, students will begin to develop skills in rhetoric, analysis, organization, grammar and style, voice, tone, and audience awareness.

  Written communication skills are generally at or near the top of every list of the most desirable skills employers seek in new employees. Enrolling in any of the developmental writing courses offered at JJC will help students form the foundations to develop these sought-after skills. Successful completion of these courses will lead students toward the college’s composition sequence (ENG 101 and 102), where they will further develop their writing and critical thinking abilities.

• Composition

  Composition courses introduce students to college level critical thinking, reading, and writing. Emphasis is placed on comprehension, argument, and analysis, as well as rhetorical and mechanical proficiency.

  Students enrolling in courses in the composition sequence (ENG 101 and ENG 102) will develop skills in argument and analysis. ENG 101 introduces students to the foundations of rhetoric and argument, while ENG 102 focuses on advanced argument and research skills, as well as information literacy. In addition to this sequence of courses, the English department also offers additional writing courses to satisfy Humanities electives.

  Students enrolling in any of the English / World Languages Department’s composition courses will learn critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. In addition, students will develop skills in rhetoric, analysis, organization, grammar and style, voice, tone, and audience awareness.

  In addition to our sequence of ENG 101 and ENG 102, the English department offers ENG 130 and 230 (Technical Writing and Advanced Technical Writing) for students pursuing either A.A. or A.S. degrees, but especially for the A.A.S. degree. Also offered are several courses in creative writing, including ENG 120 (Introduction to Creative Writing), ENG 231 (Fiction Writing), and ENG 232 (Poetry Writing).

  Written communication skills are generally at or near the top of every list of the most desirable skills employers seek in new employees. Enrolling in any of the writing courses offered at JJC will help students develop these sought-after skills. In addition, the course work in analysis, research, and critical thinking will make students ideal candidates for careers in several fields, including (but certainly not limited to)

  • Professional Writing and Research
  • Business, Industry, and Commerce
  • Technology (AI development; research)
  • Marketing / Public Relations
  • Editing and Publishing
  • Media
  • Law
  • Social Services
  • Library Science
  • Education