Course Goals
course is designed to help English Language Learners (ELL) acquire high-intermediate-level writing and grammar skills in order to communicate more clearly and accurately in English.
Core Course Topics
Sentence variety
Punctuation and mechanics
Transitional words and expressions
Writing Process
Paragraph and essay organization
Thesis-driven short essays
Supporting information/details
Various modes
Vocabulary
Audience awareness
Academic integrity, research, and sources
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Write and evaluate a variety of compound and complex sentences using coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.
Construct complete sentences, avoiding run-ons, comma splices, and fragments.
Compose academic transitional expressions and connectors to link main ideas within paragraphs and paragraphs within essays.
Formulate, construct, and revise paragraphs and essays.
Write paragraphs to form essays with clearly stated topic sentences that are supported with logical reasons, evidence, and examples.
Formulate clear, concise thesis statements appropriate for short essays.
Organize supporting information in a clear pattern, such as time, space, category, or importance.
Differentiate among and write using various modes of development: narration; description; illustration; comparison/contrast; argumentation (including counter-argumentation and refutation); opinion, problem and solution, and/or cause/effect.
Illustrate the ability to use academic voice in writing, including vocabulary and transitions.
Show evidence of ability to analyze and write for different audiences.
Model and develop the ability to integrate sources using reported speech, quotes, paraphrases, and summaries to avoid plagiarism; recognize and practice researching credible sources, and/or explain and defend sources to show appropriate use.