Developmental Writing

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Developmental Writing Course Overview

Many colleges and universities now require a minimum level of writing competence. And unlike the past, where a student could take a remedial writing course freshman year, these days schools frequently require students to take a college prep course like Developmental Writing prior to admission.

In Developmental Writing, you will examine the fundamental process, theories, and methods that you need to enhance your overall writing ability. You’ll study various strategies for writing within multiple disciplines and professions, but you will also examine the basic principles of effective college-level writing, including drafting and revising sentences, paragraphs, and essays. And when you’re done with this course, you will be prepared to meet the basic writing requirements for starting college and be ready to take on and succeed at English Composition I.

Developmental Writing is a not-for-credit course designed to prepare you to complete English Composition I successfully. It includes:

  • 24/7/365 online access
  • 10 hours of free SMARTHINKING tutoring help
  • Transcript Assistance
  • Your own personal course advisor
  • Plus, you can buy your e-Textbooks at 50% off!
  • Proctored Testing Option available.

Want to get a taste of what a real college course is like? Take a FREE TRIAL of one of 9 online college courses now!

Writing Submissions for Online Developmental Writing

Writing exercises and assignments may only be submitted as .doc, .docx, .rtf, or .txt files. Macintosh users should add an extension (.doc or .rtf) to the file name before uploading. If you have questions on saving files, please contact support@smarthinking.com .

Academic honesty is expected of all students. These guidelines for avoiding plagiarism must be followed:

  1. All submitted writings must be the student's own work.
  2. Words taken directly from a source must be encased in quotation marks and cited.
  3. Paraphrasing (rewording) of information must be cited.
  4. Ideas or examples that are not of general knowledge must be cited.

Developmental Writing Course Objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to:

  • Appreciate the skill of writing as form of critical thinking.
  • Describe the steps in the writing process.
  • Define "draft" and identify key differences between writing a first and final draft.
  • Revise paragraphs and essays to be clear and concise.
  • Edit sentences to improve clarity and eliminate errors.
  • Use appropriate and vivid word choices to express ideas.
  • Develop and explain the differences between a topic sentence and a thesis statement.
  • Develop sensory details and write a descriptive narrative paragraph.
  • Create a relationship between causes and effects; write a cause and effect paragraph.
  • Develop a strong definition paragraph through contrast, explanation, and other techniques.
  • Write a comparison and contrast essay using subject-by-subject or point-by-point methods.
  • Compose an original argument essay that acknowledges and appeals to the audience's viewpoint.
  • Identify and describe the main factors for developing a good re'sume' and cover letter.
  • Respond to essay exam prompts clearly and concisely.
  • Explain the research process and conduct research to explore a specific topic.

Writing Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites to take Developmental Writing.

Course Text

There is no required textbook for this course.

Important Online Course Terms

In this course, different terms are used to designate tasks:

  • Assignment: A written piece that will be submitted to SMARTHINKING for a grade at the end of the final draft. Your final grade for each assignment is calculated from the raw score provided from SMARTHINKING.  If you have any questions about your calculated Assignment grade please contact your course advisor. 
  • Practice Exercise: A non-graded quiz or writing piece to assist you in practicing the skills discussed in a topic.
  • Graded Quiz: A graded online test.

Developmental Writing Course Evaluation Criteria

StraighterLine does not apply letter grades. Students earn a score as a percentage of 100%. A passing percentage is 70% or higher. If you have chosen a Partner College to award credit for this course, your final grade will be based upon that college's grading scale. Only passing scores will be considered by Partner Colleges for an award of credit.

There are a total of 417 points in the course:

Topic Assessment Points Available
1 Graded Quiz: Grammar 12
2 Graded Quiz: Word Use 14
3 Graded Quiz: Sentence Types 20
4 Graded Quiz: Audience, Tone, and Purpose 13
4 Graded Quiz: Narrative Paragraph and Structure 6
4 Graded Quiz: Paragraph Structure 18
5 Graded Quiz: Audience, Tone, Purpose, and Word Choices 12
6 Graded Quiz: Organization, Support, and Unity 11
7 Graded Quiz: Thesis, Details, and Introduction/Conclusion 11
8 Descriptive Narrative Writing Assignment 21
8 Graded Quiz: Descriptive Narrative 5
9 Definition Writing Assignment 21
9 Graded Quiz: Definition 17
10 Cause and Effect Writing Assignment 21
10 Graded Quiz: Cause and Effect, Part 1 9
10 Graded Quiz: Cause and Effect, Part 2 8
11 Graded Quiz: Essay Structure 17
11 Graded Quiz: Pronouns 8
11 Graded Quiz: Transitions 10
11 Graded Quiz: Essay Development 10
12 Comparison and Contrast Writing Assignment 21
12 Graded Quiz: Comparison and Contrast 11
13 Essay Exam Writing Assignment 21
13 Graded Quiz: Essay Exams 12
14 Graded Quiz: Re'sume's 5
14 Graded Quiz: Cover Letters 6
15 I-Search Writing Assignment 21
15 Graded Quiz: Research 22
16 Argumentative Writing Assignment 21
16 Graded Quiz: Argument 13

Online Developmental Writing Topics and Objectives

Topic Lesson Topic Subtopics Objectives
1 Grammar
  • Grammar Basics
  • Mechanics
  • Punctuation
  • Define and describe good grammar.
  • Explain the process of developing a grammatically correct sentence.
  • Define manuscript form, capital letters, numbers, and abbreviations; explain how to use each in a piece of writing.
  • Define and describe the methods for improving punctuation usage including apostrophe, quotation, and comma.
2 Word Use
  • Vocabulary
  • Improving your Spelling
  • Commonly Confused Words
  • Identify and describe the major strategies for building your vocabulary.
  • Use the five steps for spelling to improve spelling skills.
  • Identify the most commonly confused words to improve your application of these terms.
3 Writing the Sentence
  • The Basics
  • Revising the sentence
  • Editing the sentence
  • Write and revise sentences using the 6 major strategies for writing smooth and clear sentences.
  • Edit sentences to improve grammar and eliminate errors.
4 Writing the Paragraph
  • Paragraph Form
  • Paragraph Structure
  • Paragraph Content
  • Explain how to structure a clear and concise paragraph.
  • Define an describe the major strategies for incorporating content into a paragraph.
  • Define paragraph form and write a topic sentence.
5 Write to be Read
  • College-Level Writing Overview
  • Understanding Content and support
  • Writing and Skill
  • Examine the basic principles of effective college-level writing.
  • Explain writing as communication.
  • Distinguish the skill of writing as a form of critical thinking, not a natural or biological phenomenon.
6 Writing Process
  • Prewriting
  • Drafting
  • Revising
  • Editing
  • Describe the pre-writing process and write an effective topic sentence.
  • Explain how free writing, listing, and clustering can help you overcome writer's block.
  • Develop brainstorming techniques for generating topics using free association of words and ideas.
  • Define draft and identify key differences between writing a first and final draft
  • Explain the revising process and practice revising a first draft.
  • Practice editing revised drafts and summarize the criteria for a well-written final draft.
7 Point and Specific Evidence
  • Point of Origin
  • Supporting the Point with Evidence
  • Organizing and Connecting the Evidence
  • Explain what a "point" is and write a topic sentence.
  • Practice writing original essays supporting and reinforcing your point with specific evidence, examples, and illustrations.
8 Description and Narration
  • Description as a Picture
  • The Description Process
  • Narration as Storytelling
  • Define description as a picture.
  • Examine the process of developing description.
  • Analyze the narrative process.
  • Combine descriptive details and narration to construct a strong descriptive narrative paragraph.
9 Definition
  • Formal and Informal Definitions
  • Developing Ideas and Details of a Definition Essay
  • The process of Revising and Writing a Definition Essay
  • Define and distinguish formal and informal definition
  • Identify the questions that can help in the revision process.
  • Write an original definition paragraph.
  • Explore a variety of ways to organize topics for a definition essay.
10 Cause and Effect
  • Connecting Cause and Effect
  • Developing a Cause-and-Effect Paragraph
  • Writing a Cause-and-Effect Paragraph
  • Identify the primary conditions that account for cause and effect dynamic.
  • Explain how to develop a cause and effect paragraph.
  • Develop a strong topic sentence that includes both cause and effect.
  • Write a cause and effect paragraph.
11 Essay Development
  • Introduction
  • Supporting Paragraphs
  • Conclusion
  • Analyze the basic structure of an essay.
  • Create an essay outline.
  • Define and describe the major strategies for writing an introductory paragraph.
  • Explain how to use supporting paragraphs and transitional sentences to develop the body of the essay.
  • Identify and describe the key methods for ending an essay.
12 Comparison and Contrast
  • Developing the Angle
  • Developing the Comparison or Contrast Essay
  • Writing the Comparison or Contrast Essay
  • Examine the two methods for developing a comparison and contrast essay.
  • Incorporate the two methods into the prewriting process.
  • Identify similarities and differences between two ideas.
  • Write a professional comparison and contrast essay.
13 Exams
  • Taking Essay Exams
  • RAT Exam
  • Describe different types of essay exams.
  • Using the essay prompt and the requirements, explain how you can construct a strong response.
  • Write a strong essay exam response that shows someone how to do one step in the writing process.
14 Re'sume's and Cover Letters
  • Writing a re'sume'
  • Writing a cover letter
  • Identify the proper headings used in a re'sume'.
  • Explain the importance of formatting in a re'sume'.
  • Describe the essential components of a cover letter.
  • Develop a personal re'sume' and cover letter.
15 Research
  • Conducting research
  • Writing a research paper
  • Use the library and the Internet to conduct research.
  • Explain the six steps of the research process.
  • Write an I-Search essay to demonstrate mastery of research-related skills.
16 Argumentation
  • Argument Strategies
  • Argument Essay Development
  • Writing the Argument Essay
  • Identify and describe the five strategies for developing a sound and persuasive argument.
  • Write an original argument essay to sway a reader's viewpoint.
  • Explore the questions one must ask in regard to audience, purpose, and narrowing one's thesis in preparation for drafting an argument essay.
17 Review
  • Review
  • Review key content covered in the course.

Developmental Writing Tutoring Included

Developmental Writing includes 10 hours of free tutoring help— live, one-on-one, on-demand instructional support from SMARTHINKING. Expert writing professionals will carefully review and provide personalized feedback to students for seven graded essays and seven essay drafts.

TRANSFERABLE COLLEGE CREDITS: A not-for-credit course designed to prepare the student to complete English Composition I successfully.

This program provides you with 6-months of course access.