Time:             One Hour Per Week (Minimum)

Place:            The Learning Center, Betty Jo Hodges Building

Director:         Sandra Kerr

Phone:           (870) 633-4480 ext. 232

Course Description:  The English Assistance Lab (EAL) is designed to assist students whose scores on the English section of the ACT or ASSET Test indicate that they could be successful in English Composition I if they were given additional assistance.

Goals:  The goals of the English Assistance Lab are:

• To provide instructional learning activities that will strengthen writing skills;

• To assist students toward successful completion of English Composition ;

• To help students become more knowledgeable and confident in their writing skills.

Objectives:  Students enrolled in EAL will:

• Complete diagnostic grammar, usage, and mechanics pretest using PLATO educational software;

• Complete PLATO lessons prescribed by the pretest;

• Complete post assessment.

Outline of Studies: PLATO computer-based, instructional software will be used for the English Assistance Lab course.  Students will be given the PLATO writing skills assessment as a diagnostic pretest.  Lessons assigned for each student will vary according to the assessment results.  Following the completion of the pretest, students will complete all prescribed lessons. When all assigned lessons have been mastered, students will be given the posttest.  (This course is self-paced; therefore, the length of time for completion varies for each student.)

Grading:  Students in the course will be graded either Credit or Non-Credit.  In order to receive Credit for English Assistance Lab, The student must:

• Complete pre/post assessments.

• Complete All Prescribed PLATO Writing Series lessons.

Special Note:  Students assigned to the English Assistance Lab must receive CREDIT for the lab, or they can not receive a grade for English Composition I.

Attendance Policy:  A minimum of one hour per day (5 hours per week) is required in the Learning Center.  Students schedule the time to attend.  Because this is a one-hour credit course, three absences will be considered excessive.  However, students may exit the English Assistance Lab early when all requirements are met.  

Rules for the Learning Center:

• Students must sign in upon entering and sign out when leaving the Learning Center.

• Food and drinks are not allowed in the Learning Center.

• Internet access is available for research purposes only.  Please ask a Learning Center instructor or tutor for assistance.

English Composition I Instructors may require English Assistance Lab students to have assignments signed by a Learning Center tutor.