Should English be a Prerequisite to all Universities?

Sourced from: "ENG4U, English." July 5, 2016. <http://www.ontariovirtualschool.ca/register-online/grade-12-courses/eng4u-grade-12u-english/>

English as a Prerequisite

I believe that grade 12 University level English should be a prerequisite in order to attend University for several reasons.

Firstly, taking English help to develop a student’s writing and better prepare them for their post-secondary endeavors. Regardless of what field of study one is attempting to enter, there will always be an element of communication involved in the courses one takes. All students at University must convey their ideas to some extent, whether it be through presentations, essay writing or lab reports. Taking English helps to further build a student’s understanding of how to effectively communicate and explain their own ideas and thoughts.

I additionally believe that taking English helps one to build on their analytical thinking, a key skill that is essential to one’s success-University and beyond. At University and in the workplace, one will be confronted with problematic situations that require them to thinking critically and thoughtfully. Through analyzing challenging texts and making inferences about the content read in class (or online), students develop their critical thinking skills early on in their life, and become better problem solvers.

Lastly, English teaches students that, in literature, perfection is impossible. One’s writing is constantly evolving and there isn’t a "perfect" essay or written analysis. Whereas in math, you can calculate the exact, precise answer in your homework, English requires one to delve deeper into the content and form their own unique arguments. English teachers also help students learn that not everyone will agree with their ideas, and that there is always room for improvement in their writing.

For all of the reasons above, I believe that Grade 12 English should be required in order to attend University.