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Malaspina University-College Nanaimo
From: Dale Wik
Our institution is living with an uneasy mix of combined literature/ writing courses at the first-year level. We require three credits of our FYC course. Although it’s only one course, there are service sections tailored to other disciplines. Our second-semester option, however, gives students a choice of either a blended “Literature and Writing” course or a three-genre literature course. Although the calendar describes the lit/writing courses as an introduction to essay writing, the genre-based approach to literature almost guarantees that literature will be the dominant focus in these courses. Instructors are finding this an awkward blend. The English Department has asked the Writing Centre for help in reviewing these offerings. I get the sense that the department is moving towards a greater recognition of the role that composition courses can play across campus. Enrollment issues are also driving this initiative. This is probably an old issue for many of you, but can anyone tell me how your institution has approached the lit/writing split in first-year courses? (I’m the only composition specialist on campus.) |