Program Links Expos to Intro Courses

An experimental program that coordinates Expository Writing classes with introductory-level courses could be expanded if the Faculty accepts certain features of the core curriculum proposal, Donald Byker, acting director of Expository Writing, said yesterday.

Byker said the special sections, which began last fall, provide a new approach to expository writing. Although the classes teach students to write on the subject matter of the affiliated courses, the Expos sections have separate grading and assignments, and are usually separately staffed, Byker said.

Last semester, experimental Expos sections with an attendance of between nine and 15 students each were held in conjunction with Soc Sci 2, "Western Thought and Institutions," Soc Sci 3a, "The Central Themes of American History" and English 10, "The Tradition of English Literature."

Experimental sections for this semester are open to freshmen enrolled in either English 12, "Shakespeare: A Survey of Plays," English 10 or Soc Sci 3b.

Byker said it is unlikely that the new system will replace the present one because the small number of freshmen who attend the same courses makes it "hard to affiliate (Expos classes) with many courses."

Establishment of a core curriculum would probably remedy this problem by requiring students to choose between a few basic courses in addition to their electives. This would make it possible for related Expos courses to become a "standard feature," Byker said. The experimental sections supplement the basic Expos program, which for the past three years has offered classes emphasizing specific areas of writing such as fiction and literature.

Although it is too early to tell how effective the new courses are at teaching students to write, they are "a good way to get experience" for any future program which might be adopted, Byker said