Course Goals
course is designed to prepare English Language Learners (ELL) to write at the college level, using formal English standards for increased clarity and accuracy.
Core Course Topics
Writing Process
Audience awareness and writer intent
Various modes
Thesis-driven essays
Paragraph and essay organization
Supporting information/details
Transitional words and expressions
Sentence variety and construction
Punctuation and mechanics
Academic integrity and research
Source credibility
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
Apply the Writing Process to plan, draft, revise, and proofread essays.
Consider purpose, audience, subject, tone, and context.
Differentiate among and write using various modes of development: illustration; process; comparison/contrast; cause/effect, and/or argumentation (including counter-argumentation and refutation).
Formulate a narrowly-focused and precisely-worded thesis statement.
Write paragraphs to form essays with clearly stated topic sentences that are supported with logical reasons, evidence, and examples.
Organize supporting information in a clear pattern, such as time, space, or importance.
Use transitional expressions to link main ideas within paragraphs and to link paragraphs within essays.
Use a variety of sentence structures correctly, avoiding run-ons, comma splices, and fragments.
Write an essay with a minimal number of spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammatical errors.
Develop an ability to quote, paraphrase, summarize and use-in-text citations correctly in order to avoid plagiarism.
Recognize and practice researching credible sources, and/or explain and defend sources to show appropriate use.