The University English Class is a new addition to the curriculum this year. Mr. Appel, the University English Class teacher, said, “I love the course.” Also, he is in his twenty-ninth year of teaching at Downingtown East High School. Mr. Appel is the first person to teach this class at DEHS.

There are not an extraneous amount of requirements students need to be have in order to be accepted into this class. If one is interested in taking the course, the only requirement is that the student has passed the English Keystone, which students usually take their sophomore year. Tyler Conrad (12) said, “I think it’s a great opportunity to improve your writing and to become prepared for college along with getting college credit at a cheaper cost.” This course is taken through a college system, meaning if the student receives a passing grade of a B, then they gain college credit. Therefore, the student does not need to participate in an English class in college during their freshman year.

The University Class has a lot to offer to students who are up for the challenge. Mr. Appel said, “If you believe you can handle college writing, and you would like to take the opportunity of learning how to write to be successful in college, because it is college level English, you have so much more freedom because you get to choose what you’re writing about, within the lesson.” In English 101, the first level/year of the University English class, the curriculum includes reading about different “patterns of writing”, writing (applying them) and thinking about them. In English 102, the second year reading and writing or level of the University Class, the curriculum includes more literature based work and critical thinking. Within the first semester, students are taught what is known as “patterns of writing.” When given the pattern of writing, students will then read a chapter and articles on that specific type of writing. Examples are also given on how that type of writing would look.

Even though this class meets every day, students switch off between what they do on different days. “ For example, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, students will be taught lessons and learning about the writing pattern they are currently studying. Then on Tuesday and Thursday, students are conferencing with Mr. Appel and writing in class. This process allows students to learn about their writing topic, and have time to improve their writing in a face-to-face way.

There are currently thirteen students enrolled in the University English class. Evan Diewald (12), one of the students in the class, said, “If you take this class you can tell girls that you’re in college. Girls love that.” Mr. Appel had mentioned that he thinks the student’s love the curriculum. Reasons to support this were that they receive feedback all the time, and in class. Taking this class also allows students to gain college credits early, and save an abundant amount of money.