That is, the competencies are divided into Reading and Literature, Writing, Speaking and Listening, and Language. The writing classes typically focus on Literature, Writing, and Language and the reading classes typically address Reading, but there is already much cross-teaching in both the reading and writing classrooms. After reviewing course syllabi, all the programs examined have two levels of composition. The courses and texts for Basic Writing emphasize grammar, spelling, sentence skills, and paragraph writing. Developmental courses and texts emphasize some grammar and mechanics, sentence structure, and paragraph writing, but include essays which focus more on content and writing in a variety of rhetorical modes.
Some programs incorporate reading and writing about literature in their courses.
In short, Developmental Writing programs are more varied across Tennessee than are the Basic Writing programs. As indicated above, creating identical programs is not the desired outcome because each institution's needs for its students are not identical. However, to facilitate student transfers from one institution to another, the committee makes the following recommendations. Recommendations Courses should be called Basic Writing and Developmental Writing. Courses should be three credit hours for both Basic Writing and Developmental Writing.