Can I take English 1101 by just signing up for it?
No. You must meet one of the following four prerequisites in order to take 1101.
Score at least 85 on the Sentence Skills section of the Accuplacer test.
Score 16 or higher on the ACT test.
Score 330 or higher on the SAT test.
Pass English 1100.
Why do I have to take 1101?
English 1101 teaches the kinds of skills needed to perform written academic and professional work. This is why CNM requires that you take English 1101. In addition, most of the employers who hire CNM graduates want their employees to be able to communicate clearly in writing and to read with understanding. To this end, they want associate degree holders to have taken basic college writing courses such as 1101.
Can I test out of having to take English 1101?
You can "test out" of having to take English 1101 at CNM by scoring 29 or higher on the ACT test or scoring at least 110 on the Accuplacer test; this will allow you to take English 1102 or 1119. However, many schools require that you take a course like English 1101. Also, by testing out of 1101, you will probably STILL have to get three hours of credit in an English course. Check with your CNM department for the regulations concerning your major area of study.
When should I take English 1101?
Once you have met one of the prerequisites for 1101, you should take the course as soon as you can.
Do I have to type all my assignments in any English course?
This depends on the individual instructor's preferences. Many 1101 and 1102 instructors accept essays written in longhand, though they may require that the multi-source paper be typed or printed out.
May I use a word processor to complete my essays and other assignments in any English class?
Yes. Word-processing skills really assist the individual in developing writing skills and completing assigments. CNM has many computer and word-processing labs open to students. Check at your campus for times when the computer labs are open for your use.
Aren't English courses at CNM supposed to be easier than UNM English courses?
No. In some cases, students assert that English courses here demand more of a student.
Why do I have to do so much work outside of class?
Education at the adult level is a process that requires the majority of effort by the student. Very few (if any) classes offered in Arts and Sciences can be mastered simply by attending class. Why is this the case? First, much of the learning process involves students working on their own time. Second, as with any school subject, developing good reading and writing skills requires daily practice.
Are the required English courses (1101, 1102, 1119) offered at certain campuses only?
The required English courses are offered at each of the four campuses at various times throughout the school year. Check your schedule for times and campuses.
Do I have to pass the English 1101 final to pass the course?
Not necessarily. However, the final essay is worth from fifteen to twenty percent of the course grade, and therefore it will affect your final grade considerably. Check with your instructor's syllabus to determine how much the final counts.
How many essays do I have to write in 1101?
In general, students can expect to write four essays of about 500 words or more, a longer paper that develops a thesis supported by several sources and that uses formal documentation, and a final two-hour essay written in a classroom. This number of essays is also true of English 1102.
Who grades the final 1101 essay?
Your instructor grades the final essay and figures its results into your final course grade.
How can I make up work that I missed when I was absent?
As with any course meeting you miss, you should check with your instructor as soon after (and preferably before) your absence to find out what you missed. Failing this, check with a classmate.
Teachers tell us to be aware of our audiences. Isn't the teacher of the course my main audience? If so, then why write for my peers when my main job is to pass the course?
Your main job is to learn to write clearly and effectively for people who are intelligent professionals. If you learn to do that, then you will pass the course.
How much writing do I have to do in courses other than 1101, 1102, or 1119?
Many college teachers require much writing in their classes. This even applies to some math classes. How much writing you will have to do depends on the course you take and the instructor's requirements for you as a student in that course. However, most English courses evaluate your performance based on essays and papers you submit.
I was told that my opinion does not count and I should never use I when I write papers in English classes. Is that true?
Any paper you write reflects at least some of your opinion. Also, depending on the assignment, you may be asked to give your own personal views. Be sure to check with your teacher concerning how much personal opinion is required on a certain assignment.
Is English 1119 transferable to UNM?
English 1119 transfers to UNM as an elective. It does not replace English 2219 (Technical Writing), required by various UNM departments for graduation. AT CNM, English 1119 is designed for students who are pursuing an associate degree in some programs. Check your department's required courses to see whether you need 1119 or 1102.
What is English 2220?
English 2220, "Expository Writing," is designed for students who want to continue to develop their writing skills after taking 1102. It is an advanced composition course that will continue to aid you in developing academic writing practice.
What is Introduction to Literature (English 1150)?
Introduction to Literature is a course for general students who want to become familiar with the elements of fiction, poetry, and drama. It is accepted by UNM as an elective credit course. If you are an English major, you probably will want to take English 250, "Analysis of Literature," which is required for English majors. English1150 and English 2250 are not the same course.
Do we get to write poems and short stories in 1101 and 1102?
As a rule, no. However, you can take English 2221, "Creative Writing: Fiction," and English 2222, "Creative Writing: Poetry," if you want to develop your abilities as a writer of these literary forms.
Why do grammar and spelling matter? Can't I just spell-check everything and leave it at that?
Advisory groups to CNM (the people that hire you) want you to be able to be somewhat comfortable with being literate. They feel that competence in using correct grammar and other mechanics of writing is one characteristic of a literate employee. These employers requested that CNM require courses like 1101, 1102, and 1119 to develop the writing skills of their potential employees. Also, using spell checkers does not guarantee that a word is spelled --or used--correctly. Consider this sentence, which a spell checker would approve but would be nonetheless incorrect:
Eye except you're groups advise, fore its moor sincere then they're groups advise.
The correct version of this sentence follows:
I accept your group's advice, for it's more sincere than their group's advice.
How is 1101 different from English 1100 offered in the Division of Educational and Career Advancement ?
English 1100 is a developmental course designed to better prepare students whose writing skills do not yet meet the prerequisites of English 1101 . English 1100 students come from very diverse backgrounds, some with high school diplomas, some with GEDs, some with limited exposure to the English language as it is used in the academy, but all with a desire to further their education. English 1100 gives students one or more semesters' practice writing in a collegiate setting to help prepare them for academic writing assignments. Because English 100 is graded only as a Credit/ No Credit course, earned credits in English 1100 do not count for college transfer credits, though successful completion usually indicates the student is prepared for entry-level college writing assignments. English 1101 is a required course for all four-year degrees and most two-year degrees and certificates. 1101 requires more analytical writing than 1100, more difficult syntheses of ideas and textual sources than 100, more work with reading academic essays, and greater emphasis on academic conventions of written discourse. Unlike credit earned in English 1100, earned credits in English 1101 count for college transfer credits nation-wide. 1101 therefore employs a standard four-point letter-grade scale (A=4.0, B=3.0, C=2.0, etc.). Most college degree programs require students to pass 1101 or test out before they may take English 1102.
Do English courses other than 1101, 1102, or 1119 have prerequisites?
Not all English courses other than the 1100-level writing courses have prerequisites. The CNM catalog specifies any and all prerequisites for all courses offered at CNM.
