20801203Advanced Composition
Course Information
Description
Continues the study of expository writing for students who wish to attain advanced skills in managing the written language. Students learn critical reading and thinking skills, including textual analysis and evaluations.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Apply the conventions of academic essay writing
    Assessment Strategies
    by submitting assigned essays that meet all requirements specified for the instructor for length, content, and format of documents
    (optional) by submitting revised documents by incorporating comments from instructor
    by preparing drafts of essays with word processing software and keeping back-up copies of all drafts on disk
    by taking five quizzes, one on each of the following: clarity, conciseness, punctuation, grammar and diction
    Criteria
    write essays that contain an introduction, a body, and a conclusion
    write thesis statements
    develop thesis statements through the use of supporting details, evidence, and analysis
    choose an appropriate organizational plan for the essay
    write paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting details, evidence, and analysis
    construct the essay through a series of well crafted paragraphs, with each paragraph contributing to a dominant idea
    use transitional phrases to show logical connections between paragraphs
    write sentences that are grammatically correct
    observe standard rules for punctuation and mechanics
    write essays that are free of spelling and typographical errors
    write essays that observe the conventions for academic diction, conciseness, and critical thinking skills
    write essays that show provocative imagery and coherent narrative sequencing

  2. Write essays
    Assessment Strategies
    by writing a minimum of 6 essays (minimum 1,200 words) in a combination of in-class and out-of-class situations
    by revising- at least once- all these essays
    by writing a review of an academic work
    by writing a 2,000 word profile of a controversial subject, person, or place
    by writing essays that meet all expectations stated by the instructor for content and length
    by completing all pre-writing exercises assigned by the instructor
    (optional) by revising essays through a prescribed peer review process
    by preparing essays using word processing software and keeps back-up copies of essays on disk
    Criteria
    apply the conventions of academic essay writing
    use a process of prewriting, drafting, revision, and editing to complete each essay
    summarize and restate ideas written by others
    write essays that demonstrate knowledge of a variety of rhetorical patterns (comparison/contrast, classification, analogy, definition, analysis, etc.)
    write essays and paragraphs that present arguments and develop them through supporting evidence
    write essays for a variety of purposes ( examples: informative, explanatory, evaluative, persuasive, narrative, descriptive)
    write essays that are unified
    construct and defend arguments responding to ideas presented in the writing of others
    write essays that are coherent
    write essays that explore a topic in depth

  3. Revise essays
    Assessment Strategies
    by participating in revision exercises
    by meeting deadlines for completing drafts of the length and type specified by the instructor
    by revising essays and submitting them for additional review, as specified by the instructor
    by using word processing software to prepare essays and keeping back-up copies on disk
    Criteria
    revise essays using evaluation from self, peers, and/or instructor
    participate in all peer review exercises assigned by the instructor
    prepare essays that are free of typographical and spelling errorsr
    recognize invalid or missing parts of an essay: thesis statement, logical organization, topic sentences, sufficient evidence, coherence, unity, usage
    identify strengths within an essay
    make constructive suggestions about an essay
    judge appropriateness of suggestions for revision
    add, delete, rearrange, or rewrite information based on suggestions
    prepare essays that follow standard guidelines for format (margins, spacing, indentation, page numbering, etc.)
    copy-edit essays for mechanical and grammatical correctness
    proofread essays

  4. Use the research process
    Assessment Strategies
    by meeting all requirements the instructor has specified for content and length of assigned research paper
    by meeting all requirements the instructor has specified for number and type of sources to be compiled for the research paper
    by meeting deadlines for submitting drafts for review
    by using word processing software to prepare research paper and keeps back-up copy of all work on disk
    Criteria
    identify sources that are credible and current
    gather information from appropriate sources (e.g., the library, the Internet, and personal interviews)
    prepare accurate summaries of information gathered from sources
    incorporate alternative perspectives on a topic
    present your own point of view on information and analysis taken from sources
    support a thesis with supporting evidence taken from sources
    document sources using MLA or other standard academic documentation formats
    prepare a list of works cited for the research paper

  5. Apply critical thinking to research data and arguments of others
    Assessment Strategies
    by integrating critical thinking competencies into writing and revising assigned essays
    Criteria
    identify your own biases and cultural assumptions
    identify tacit assumptions and connotations encoded in definition and euphemism
    analyze and evaluate data, research, and arguments of others
    identify logical fallacies
    analyze data and construct well documented and supported arguments in response to academic issues