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Faculty Says English Student Improves Little in 4 Years
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How well is the average incoming KU freshman equipped to handle the English language?
How does the freshman progress in this most basic of subjects as he goes through his first and second years at KU?
The answers to these questions by members of the department of English reveal that many freshmen have vital weaknesses which are only somewhat improved when they graduate.
William P. Albrecht, chairman of the department, said freshman English attempts to overcome three basic weaknesses in composition.
They are mechanical errors in such functions as punctuation, spelling, choice of words, agreement of subject and verb, and faulty reference; inability to organize written material properly, and the inability to write in a simple, accurate idiomatic style.
"Perhaps the most difficult of the weaknesses to overcome is the last." Dr. Albrecht said. "Many students do not communicate well in their writing. This is a serious handicap."
Need Further Progress
He said there is improvement after the first four courses—a total of ten hours—but there is still a need for further progress.
David Dykstra, instructor in English, said freshmen know more grammatical rules and terminology then they are sometimes given credit for.
"But what they lack is information about things in general," he said. "They are eager and want to write well, but they lack intellectual
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sophistication. The product is immature in content and style."
Dr. Dykstra said freshmen do not have information about things one must get through wide reading.
Courses Provide Stimulus
"Ideally, our reading courses are supposed to provide a stimulus to reading," he haid. "We want to introduce the student to literature and hold out bait for further reading."
Because everyone is exposed to words and many people do not use the language precisely or with much thought for its inherent beauties, students feel that they can get along with the knowledge of it they already have, Dr. Dykstra said.
Lack of Maturity
An active effort is required to realize competent English usage, he added. The freshman readings are selected to show the uses and delights of the language, what it can do, and what it has done.
Vincent E. Gillespie, instructor in English, agrees there is a lack of maturity in student writing. He has also noted failure on the part o
"The attitude toward writing and reading means a great deal." Mr. Gillespie said. "There is no respect for idea or writing. Often students cannot even tell the meaning of a simple essay."
many students to organize paragraphs and coordinate and organize ideas.
He added that the attitude of many freshmen in English courses is to get through somehow.
"We consider these freshmans-sophomore English courses as service functions," he said. "The student must make adjustments in the use of the language, even though he has gotten along with it all right before."
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