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Doreen E. Ewert
were still noticeably behind the others, as opposed to now, when
many of them are actually better prepared than their classmates
(First Year Composition, W131ML instructor, Email communication,
September 2009).
Another indicated that there is much greater variation among the
students who enter W131 directly without [ESL-literacy] coursework in
terms of proficiency and experience with university literacy tasks whereas
the students coming from [the third course] “fluently navigate through my
class” (W131ML instructor interview, June 2010). Since there had been no
articulation of the developmental ESL courses with the first year composition
courses in the past, and the teaching cohorts of both programs are
constantly in flux with graduate students coming and going, it is impossible
to get an in-depth comparative analysis of the old and new curricula
from the faculty.
Discussion
The implementation and investigation of this curriculum is ongoing,
but the initial data from student tests and grades as well as the perceptions
of students and teachers has been gratifying. By engaging in the literate
behaviors of comprehending and responding to specific texts, the students’
reading and writing activities remain integrated. By emphasizing fluency
and clarity before accuracy, the students’ work with texts increases in purpose
and focus. However, there are ongoing challenges in implementing
this curriculum.