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When entering into any undergraduate degree, you will more than likely be required to take a class in English Composition, commonly known as ENC 1101, as a part of your academic fundamentals. You may feel that this is beneath your intellectual know-how. So what are your choices in reference to this class?
One is of course that you could "test out" of this required class by taking the CLEP (Credit for Life Experience Program) exam. Okay, but before you choose this instead of taking the class, you should know what is required by the CLEP exam.
The test itself is 90 minutes long and is made up of 90 multiple choice questions. However, there is an alternative form of this test, where you have the option of writing an essay in 40 minutes on top of the multiple choice questions, which will be decreased to 50 questions in 50 minutes. There are some colleges that will only allow one form of CLEP exam for English Composition, so check with your school first.
For the questions, you will have an equal number divided between grammar and sentence structure. The last half consists of short paragraphs that you read and then answer questions related to the paragraphs. Sound easy? Be careful, because English grammar is not easy and can be very confusing. For this reason, many students opt to write a short essay in order to decrease the questions asked in this area.
Now, if you are not so sure of yourself in this subject, you should take the class. It has many benefits that you might not be aware of. Of course, you will be getting a good refresher course on grammar and sentence structure, which will benefit you throughout your degree program, especially if you have chosen to earn your degree online. Most all of your communication with online schools will be through the written word!
Another area of this class which will be helpful in many other classes is improving your skills of reading comprehension. If you are a returning student, you may not be in the habit of reading in a manner that you obtain all of the information. Most of us get use to "skimming" articles or instructions, instead of really "reading" an item.
You will be instructed in the skill of writing an essay where you are able to present your viewpoint in a structured manner that must follow a pre-ordained format. This can be very important for you if you plan to go on and earn your Master's degree, where you will be required to write a dissertation or thesis. The ability to critically analyze a reading assignment and express your viewpoint clearly will also be used throughout your degree program and later in the business world, especially if part of your job is preparing and presenting new ideas.
It could very well be that you have sufficient knowledge of the English language to be able to "test out" of ENC 1101; however, do not underestimate the importance of what you could learn by taking English composition. Why else is this class a part of every undergraduate college degree program?
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