To evaluate the effectiveness of a developmental composition course for students without adequate basic skills, a comparative analysis was conducted of the course grades of students (1) taking the developmental course, (2) repeating the developmental course, (3) taking the required composition course, and (4) taking the required course after taking the developmental course. Data for the first three semesters the developmental course was offered showed that three-fifths of the students completing the course received a "C" or higher and that students repeating the course had a relatively high success rate on the second attempt. Student success rates in the required freshman English course rose after the developmental course. Furthermore, students who took the developmental course were more likely to succeed in that course and the second required English course than in the first required English course. The findings indicated that the developmental English course served the needs of students who had the ability but lacked the basic skills for success in the regularly required English courses. (Extensive tables are included.) (MM)