WRT 090 - English Composition Fundamentals

3 Credits, 3 Contact Hours
3 lecture periods 0 lab periods

Introduction to academic writing. Includes basic practice in employing critical thinking skills, practicing multiple writing processes, using appropriate conventions in creating and revising texts, composing using appropriate technology, and analyzing and writing paragraphs and short essays.

Prerequisite(s): ESL 088WG or ACL 080 or required score on the Writing assessment.
Information: WRT 090A, WRT 090B, and WRT 090C together constitute WRT 090. Equivalent to WRT 096.

Course Learning Outcomes

Employ critical thinking skills through reading and writing.
Practice multiple writing processes.
Use appropriate conventions in creating and revising texts.
Compose texts using appropriate technology.
Analyze and create paragraphs and short essays.

Outline:

Employ Critical Thinking Skills through Reading and Writing
1. Use active reading strategies
2. Read texts from multiple points of view
3. Summarize and respond to texts
Practice Multiple Writing Processes
1. Engage in multiple strategies and stages of writing including brainstorming, drafting, revising, peer-feedback
2. Reflect on writing progress and process
3. Use feedback to address higher-order and lower-order concerns in writing
4. Engage in recursive processes to strengthen writing outcomes
Use Appropriate Conventions in Creating and Revising Texts
1. Strengthen basic writing skills including sentence-level issues
  1. Create effective sentences
    1. Sentence fluency and coherence
    2. Sentence variety
  2. Use standard grammar and punctuation
  3. Employ appropriate word choice
2. Use conventions appropriate for the purpose, audience, and situation
Compose Texts Using Appropriate Technology
1. Develop information literacy
2. Use technology strategically to support your purpose
3. Use technology to format texts using MLA style guidelines
Analyze and Create Paragraphs and Short Essays
1. Design and Write Effective Paragraphs
  1. Basic paragraph structure
    1. Topic sentence
    2. Specific details
    3. Supporting evidence
    4. Paragraph Coherence
2. Use a variety of rhetorical modes that may include description, narration, exposition, cause and effect, comparison contrast, process, definition, persuasion, and/or analysis
3. Write three short essays (each with a minimum of 500 words)
  1. Unify ideas around a thesis
  2. Organize and develop ideas logically to produce coherent and cohesive text
  3. Master basic essay components
    1. Introductions and conclusions
    2. Theses/claims
    3. Body paragraphs including claims, evidence, and explanation
4. Word count
  1. Produce revised writing totaling at least 1,500 words
  2. Produce a total semester output of 5,000 words