Advanced Composition

 

Advanced Composition
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to your Advanced Composition course. In thiscourse, you’ll practice research and writing skills by developingpapers that require you to use sources

and correctly citethem using MLA formatting. You’ll learn to look at writingwith a critical eye—a skill you can apply to your own work,as well as to the

reading you do for research or in your dailyactivities. You’ll apply these skills to your own writingthrough editing and revising.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of the course is to use research toplan, organize, develop, and edit a variety of papers withclarity and precision using standard MLA

formatting.When you complete this course, you’ll be able ton Use the writing process to write essays using differentpatterns of developmentn Apply an

appropriate rhetorical style to an audienceand purposeWrite effective thesis statementsDevelop paragraphs using topic sentences, adequatedetail, supporting

vidence, and transitionsn Identify, define, and analyze literary elementsDevelop critical reading skillsUse responsible research methods to locate

appropriatesecondary sources.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of the course is to use research toplan, organize, develop, and edit a variety of papers withclarity and precision using standard MLA

formatting.When you complete this course, you’ll be able to:

-Use the writing process to write essays using differentpatterns of development

– Apply an appropriate rhetorical style to an audienceand purpose

-Write effective thesis statements

-Develop paragraphs using topic sentences, adequatedetail, supporting evidence, and transitions.

-Identify, define, and analyze literary elements

-Develop critical reading skills

-Use responsible research methodsto locate appropriatesecondary sources

Use Modern Language Association (MLA) citation anddocumentation style to reference secondary source materialcorrectly and appropriately.Quote, paraphrase,

and summarize secondary sourcematerial correctly and appropriately.Use the conventions of standard written American
English to produce correct, well-written essays

COURSE MATERIALS
The following materials are part of this course:
1. This study guide, which contains
-introduction to your course
– A lesson assignments page, which outlines thestudy assignments in your textbook
-Self-checks and answers to help you assess yourunderstanding of the material

2. Your course textbook, Successful College Writing, which
contains your assigned readings, as well as additionalquizzes, essay assignments, as well as additional quizzesand essay assignments.

YOUR TEXTBOOK
Your primary text for this course is Successful CollegeWriting, 6th edition, by Kathleen T. McWhorter. Beginreviewing the text by reading the table of

contents on
pages xxvii–xlv.

Then follow the study guide for directionson required reading assignments. Note the following featuresof your text:

-The “Quick Start” features at the beginning of eachchapter are short introductions designed to help youget a head start on the material.

Make sure you workthrough the exercises, even though they won’t beformally evaluated.

-The organization within chapters includes major headingsand subheadings that break down each chapter’scontent into manageable sections. Exercises and

modelessays are also important parts of every chapter.

-Modern Language Association and AmericanPsychological Association (APA) style guides for citingand documenting your research. These can be foundbeginning

on page 616 in Chapter 24.

-A grammar handbook that includes information andexercises on the foundational elements of writing,such as grammar, sentence structure, punctuationand word

choice.

YOUR STUDY GUIDE
This study guide is intended to help you get more out of thematerial in your textbook. It’s not a substitute for readingyour text. The material for this

course is divided into eightlessons. Each lesson contains one or more assignments.Here’s a good procedure to follow:

1. Read the introduction to each assignment in thisstudy guide.

2. Read the required sections in the textbook, keeping yourstudy guide handy as you read. If the study guide refersto a specific figure in the

textbook, pay particular attentionto that item.

3. After you read the material in the textbook, return to thisstudy guide and use the assignment summaries to quizyourself on the material you’ve

read. Use the headingsin the outline to ask yourself questions.

4. When you feel confident that you understand the materialfor a particular assignment, complete the self-checkin this study guide and compare your

answers to those
given at the end of this study guide. Do not submit theself-checks for grading.
5. When you’ve completed all the assignments for aparticular lesson, review the material and completethe examination, quiz, and/or essay exam(s)

forthat lesson. Submit each written project for gradingand evaluation as soon as you complete it.

6. Complete each lesson in this manner.

A STUDY PLAN
This study guide contains your lesson assignments, quizzes,exams, and essay exams for the eight lessons you’ll completefor this course. The self-checks at

the end of each assignment
will help you assess your understanding of the materialso you’ll know whether you should move on to the nextassignment or review the material before

continuing.

Study pace. You have a study time limit for the semesterbut not one specific to Advanced Composition. You mustpace yourself wisely through the semester’s

courses to meetthe expiration date, allowing sufficient time for reading,prewriting, drafting, revising, and grading. Generally, youshould allot at least

two weeks for each lesson, with sometaking longer than that. You must complete each exam in the:

1. correct order.
1
The goal of this course is to help you grow as a writer bybuilding on your strengths and improving your weaknesseswith each assignment. Therefore, this

course emphasizes the
process approach to writing. Ideally, you’ll submit each exam,quiz, and prewriting and essay project in order after you’vereceived your evaluation of the

previous lesson, so that you
can apply the instructor’s feedback to your next writing project.

You must successfully complete the prewriting exams forLessons 6 and 7 before you submit the essay exams. Whileyou’re waiting for evaluations, you should

begin to work onthe next lesson’s assignments. If you have other coursesavailable for study, you may work on those materials whiletaking this English

course and submit any completed exams.

Organization.To keep your work for this course organized,create clearly labeled files in your word processing program.

We recommend you create a primary file folder named“Advanced Composition.” Within that folder, create separatefolders, such as “Self-Checks” and “Course

Notes.” Also create
a folder for each written exam (Lessons 5, 6, 7, and 8),where you’ll keep files of your research notes, rough drafts,and final draft. Establish a clear

naming system for each fileso you don’t confuse early drafts with your final version of anessay. When you reopen a rough draft, immediately click

Save As and add the date before further revision. That wayyou won’t lose anything you may delete but later wish youhad kept.

Required video lectures. There are three required videosfor the course posted on your student portal. Each videoincludes information that will help you to

complete yourassignments successfully.

Exam submissions.Use the following guidelines whensubmitting your exams:
nMultiple-choice quizzes and examinations: You’ll submityour answers for these exams online.
n Written essays and prewriting projects (Lessons 5, 6, 7,and 8): Unless the individual essay or project instructionsspecify otherwise, papers must be

typed doublespacedusing a standard, 12-point font (Times NewRoman or Calibri are good examples) and left justification.

Use 1-inch margins on all sides. Each page musthave a header in the proper format, containing studentname, student number with exam number, pagenumber,

mailing address, and email address.

Thesis: Focus for Audience and Purpose
The thesis establishes a clearly defined, analytic focus unique to the assigned topic, purpose,
and audience.
Development and Structure of Ideas in Relation to Thesis
Using applicable pattern(s) of development, the writer explores in depth the relationship between
thesis, assertion, and evidence. The opening engages the reader with the thesis. The body paragraphs
develop the thesis in a controlled fashion. The discussion closes with a sense of finality
reinforcing the thesis.

Incorporation of Source Material
Paraphrases, summaries, and direct quotations are aptly integrated with the writer’s style for the
purpose and audience. Sources are relevant and reliable.

Overall Organization of Writing
Transitional words and connective phrasing guide the reader through the relationships between
ideas. Each paragraph contains one idea that supports the thesis. The supporting sentences
connect to/develop the paragraph’s focus.

Word Choice and Presentation Style
The writer shows a consistent point of view, captivating the reader with skillful, precise language
for the purpose and audience. The essay is graceful and easy to read aloud with a natural, pleasant
rhythm through varied sentence length and structures.

MLA Citation
Using the MLA citation style, the writer accurately documents the required number of sources.

Conventions
According to standard written American English, the writer correctly applies spelling, punctuation
(including sentence structure), and grammar. These choices make the writing professional and
easy to understand. The writing meets the required length and overall submission format for
the assignment.

 

Other Resources
Other online resources for grammar, punctuation, sentencestructure, and mechanics include the following:

Instructions to Students 11
Daily Grammar: http://www.dailygrammar.com/archive.shtml

Blue Book of Grammar and Mechanics: http://www.grammarbook.com/

Guide to Grammar and Writing, sponsored by Capital Community College Foundation:

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index2.htm

Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

 

 

CategoriesUncategorized