Description:

Beginning with a review of basic sentence skills, this course focuses on paragraph development, including subject selection, topic sentences, methods of development, transitional devices and effective introductions and conclusions. The last part of the course will focus on developing multi-paragraph essays. 3 hrs./wk. This course does not fulfill degree requirements. Students must take the JCCC writing assessment test. For more information, see a JCCC counselor.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor's course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Work effectively in groups to develop and refine their writing.
2. Use all stages of the writing process to develop and refine their writing.
3. Construct and manipulate effective sentences.
4. Organize, develop, and revise paragraphs.
5. Organize, develop, and revise short essays.
6. Demonstrate proficiency with skills necessary to enter Composition I.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Work Effectively in Groups to Develop and Refine Writing
   A. Follow oral and written instructions.
   B. Participate in group discussions.
   C. Critique group members' writing.
   D. Apply to their own writing, critical feedback from group members.

II. Use All Stages of the Writing Process to Develop and Refine Writing
   A. Demonstrate skill with several prewriting methods.
      1. Create clusters.
      2. Freewrite.
      3. List.
      4. Answer journalist's questions.
   B. Learn how to focus and organize effectively.
      1. Create topic sentences.
      2. Create thesis sentences.
      3. Devise forecasting statement.
      4. Apply transitions and other devices for linking sentences and
paragraphs.
      5. Use global arrangement strategies: chronological, order of
importance, spatial, classification, comparison/contrast.
   C. Develop paragraphs and essays with effective examples.
      1. Recognize the difference between general and specific examples
and apply them appropriately.
      2. Recognize the difference between abstract and concrete examples
and apply them appropriately.
      3. Develop some facility with the patterns of development:
description, narration,  illustration, comparison/contrast, process
analysis, definition, classification, cause/effect.
   D. Revise writing for content, organization, and expression.
      1. Recognize weaknesses in material and demonstrate ability to add,
delete, or rearrange material as required to correct the weaknesses.
      2. Recognize and correct flaws in organization in the essay and
paragraph (ranging from an overall essay pattern such as
comparison/contrast through cohesive devices such as thesis and topic
sentences to sentence-level connectors such as transitional words and
synonyms).
      3. Recognize and correct flaws in expression on the word and
sentence level (ranging from precise word choice to variety in sentence
structure).
   E. Revise writing for standard matters of mechanical correctness.
      1. Recognize and correct writing for errors in grammar, spelling,
and punctuation.
      2. Perform to the departmental standard as set forth in the English
Program Guide on the majority of evaluated paragraph and essay assignments
(no more than seven major errors per essay; no more than three major errors
per paragraph).

III. Construct and Manipulate Effective Sentences
   A. Develop ability to recognize and construct the four grammatical
sentence types.
   B. Identify and use the four functional sentence types.
   C. Recognize and manipulate the fundamental units of the sentence:
phrase and clause.

IV. Organize, Develop and Revise Paragraphs
   A. Determine purpose of paragraph and write for a specific audience.
   B. Construct effective topic sentences.
   C. Create unified and coherent paragraphs.
   D. Expand paragraphs using several of the patterns of development.
   E. Develop ability to recognize and achieve a degree of sentence
variety.

V. Organize, Develop, and Revise Short Essays
   A. Determine purpose of essay and write for a specific audience.
   B. Recognize and write effective introductory, body, and concluding
paragraphs.
   C. Select and use an appropriate overall organizational pattern for the
essay.
   D. Select and use effective organizational patterns for paragraphs.
   E. Link paragraphs successfully.

VI. Demonstrate Proficiency with Skills Necessary to Enter Composition I
   A. Write at least one essay that achieves a grade of  C" or better.
   B. Demonstrate a good command of the mechanics of writing (adhering to
the departmental standard established in the Major and Minor Errors
Checklist).

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

30-40%   2-4 essays        
30-40%   4-7 paragraphs    
20-40%   Prewriting, quizzes, homework, in-class group work.
100%
         
Grading criteria:
      A  90-100%
      B  80-89.9%
      C  70-79.9%
      D  60-69.9% 
      F  under 60%

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.