THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ROLE OF READING IN A STANDARD TWO-SEMESTER FRESHMAN ENGLISH COURSE IS EMPHASIZED IN A DISCUSSION OF THE BASIC CONCEPTS, PURPOSES, ORGANIZATION, RESEARCH, AND METHODOLOGY OF THE COLLEGE FRESHMAN ENGLISH PROGRAM. INCLUDED IN THE DISCUSSION ARE AN EXAMINATION OF WHAT ENTERING FRESHMEN SHOULD KNOW TO SUCCEED IN COLLEGE ENGLISH, A DESCRIPTION OF TEACHER ROLE, SOME CRITICISMS OF COURSES CURRENTLY OFFERED IN MANY COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, AND SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COURSE CONTENT, SEQUENCE, METHODS, AND MATERIALS IN ORDER TO MORE EFFECTIVELY COMBINE RHETORIC AND READING INTO A GOOD FRESHMAN PROGRAM. PERTINENT FINDINGS FROM THE PROJECT ENGLISH STUDIES ARE REPORTED. REFERENCES ARE GIVEN. (LS)