ENGL 0890 - Preparing for College Writing

1. Demonstrate increased competence and fluency in writing.
2. Practice and demonstrate the writing process.
3. Demonstrate the use of a computer in the writing process.
4. Demonstrate improved word choice, sentence structure, and punctuation choice.
5. Recognize paragraph and essay coherence. Begin to write competent, unified drafts.
   • write topic sentences
   • support points with examples and illustrations
6. Read own and others’ writing with increased insight and comprehension.
   • read actively by marking the text, taking notes, and questioning the writer’s assertions
   • summarize accurately
7. Write with an awareness of audience:
   • establish a focus by writing a thesis statement
   • use appropriate tone and diction
   • use a clear pattern of organization
   • write an introduction that engages the reader
   • write a conclusion that brings closure to the essay
   • use an accepted format for a college paper
8. Demonstrate improving abilities as a developing writer by:
   • attending class regularly, prepared and on-time
   • participating actively
9. Use campus resources necessary for academic success, including, but not limited to the Academic Support Center and the Library.
10. Use summary, paraphrase, and quotation to include outside sources in an essay.
11. Use a documentation system, such as MLA, to correctly identify and acknowledge the use of outside sources in an essay.

1. The writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, proofreading
2. Elementary sentence, paragraph, and essay structure
3. Sentence punctuation strategies: run-ons, comma splices, fragments, and common usage issues. This is often done within the context of the student’s own writing.
4. Composition vocabulary: discussing writing with commonly accepted terminology
5. Reading and study of student and/or professional essays
6. Habits of effective writing processes
7. Accessing student resources and support services
8. Various forms of writing, including expository and argumentative essays; no more than one major expressive/personal narrative assignment
9. Major emphasis is on essay writing, not single-paragraph writing
10. All essays should be multiple pages and at least one essay should be source-based using a documentation style, such as MLA, for both in-text and end-of-text citations