Objective:
The course objective is to build core skills of English Composition and teach students how to apply those skills to become effective writers. Students will gain proficiency in usage of basic grammar, punctuation and mechanics. Students will learn how to construct effective sentences, paragraphs, and essays while gaining proficiency with all of the steps in the writing process. Additionally, students will create original compositions in the narrative and informative modes.
Learning Outcomes:
- Write effective sentences and paragraphs
- Articulate the writing process
- Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to describe English Composition
- Employ proper usage of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics in writing
- And apply writing and revising techniques to narrative and informative essays
General Course Topics:
- Modes of writing
- Purpose, audience, and tone
- Parts of speech
- Subjects and verbs
- Independent and dependent clauses
- Sentence fragments
- Run-on sentences
- Paragraph development and organization
- Developing effective topic sentences
- Transitions
- Modifiers
- Commonly confused words
- Pronoun choice
- Pronouns and antecedents
- Verb tense consistency
- Subject-verb agreement
- The writing process
- Brainstorming
- Pre-writing
- Outlining and drafting
- Revising, editing, and proofreading
- Essay structure
- Essay style
- Narrative writing- elements, language, and techniques
- Dialogue in writing
- Punctuation and mechanics
- Combating writer's block
- Defining your essay topic
- Drafting and the rhetorical situation
- Thesis statements
- Writing in the informative mode
- Revising an essay
- Editing and proofreading an essay