FIRST-YEAR COMPOSITION SHOULD BE SKIPPED Paul G. Cook

The article that captured my attention was First-Year Composition should be skipped because I strongly believe that this should be a prerequisite before taking any intensive writing course. To read that this is even a thought is crazy, because people need a writing composition class to prepare and enhance your writing. I was fortunate to have an extensive writing class and a teacher who was also an English professor. She always made it her point that a writing course was essential before we began and course that required extensive research. Which to me makes no sense for state legislatures to try an advance a college education. As stated in the text “State legislatures and policy makers, in their efforts to make higher education faster and more flexible, are busy touting MOOCs (massive open online courses) and dual-enrollment programs that allow students to take FYC in high school as an alternative to the traditional two-semester, two-course sequence.” An exam can not determine or develops writing skills necessary for college success. I agree with author when she states that this idea must go away. I mean it makes no sense to try to do away with a major preparation for college readiness. It is crazy because High Schools blame Middle Schools for not preparing their students with the writing skills and Universities blame High Schools for student not being college ready. Everyone plays the blaming games instead of understanding that a Writing Composition class is an essential need and one must take it to measure student writing skills. I for one do understand how important it is  to take these courses because they prepare and give you the writing mechanics one needs for college success. Doing away with this class or teaching an online class is definitely  a bad idea because you need to take your time developing your writing skills. I do not agree with this because we need people graduating with writing abilities.