StraighterLine

Course Description

This course examines the fundamental process, theories, and methods that enhance a student's overall writing ability. It introduces various strategies for writing within multiple disciplines and professions. This course examines basic principles of effective college-level writing through drafting and revising sentences, paragraphs, and essays. Topics to improve sentence structure and clarity include grammar, punctuation, and word choice. In addition to learning proper research techniques, students explore various writing genres including narration, cause and effect, compare and contrast, definition, and argumentation.

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 résumé and cover letter.
• Respond to essay exam prompts clearly and concisely.
• Explain the research process and conduct research to explore a specific topic.

Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites to take Developmental Writing.

Academic Honesty

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.

Important 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.
• 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.

Writing Submissions

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 .

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: Résumés	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

Course 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 & 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 & 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	Résumés and Cover Letters	Writing a résumé Writing a cover letter	Identify the proper headings used in a résumé. Explain the importance of formatting in a résumé. Describe the essential components of a cover letter. Develop a personal résumé 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.