Current Status

Not Enrolled

Price

Course Overview

This introductory writing course strengthens students’ skills in written communication, focusing on the writing process, critical reading, and producing clear and effective writing for both academic and professional settings.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • Apply the steps of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing
  • Recognize and construct key components of essays
  • Write well-organized and grammatically accurate paragraphs and essays
  • Understand how reading supports effective writing
  • Use strategies to write with clarity, coherence, and appropriate tone
  • Distinguish between various organizational patterns in writing
  • Identify and apply sentence structures and punctuation rules correctly
  • Develop sound spelling, grammar, and punctuation usage
  • Implement research strategies and guidelines for academic writing
  • Plan and write a polished, properly formatted research paper

Course Format and Expectations

Course Hours:

  • 45 Contact (Clock) Hours
  • 3 Credit Hours

Outside Coursework:
This course includes significant independent study outside of scheduled instructional hours. Students may spend up to 90 hours on reading assignments, writing practice, discussion responses, research, and skill-building activities. Expect to dedicate 2–4 hours of study each day while enrolled.

Student Responsibilities:

  • Arrive prepared and ready to contribute to discussions
  • Complete all assigned readings and homework on time
  • Participate respectfully in peer dialogue
  • Stay open-minded to different perspectives
  • Submit quizzes and class projects as assigned

Course Format and Expectations

Course Hours:

  • 45 Contact (Clock) Hours
  • 3 Credit Hours

Outside Coursework:
This course includes a significant amount of independent study outside of scheduled instructional hours. Students may spend up to 90 hours on reading assignments, writing practice, discussion responses, research, and skill-building activities. Expect to dedicate 2–4 hours of study each day while enrolled.

Student Responsibilities:

  • Arrive prepared and ready to contribute to discussions
  • Complete all assigned readings and homework on time
  • Participate respectfully in peer dialogue
  • Stay open-minded to different perspectives
  • Submit quizzes and class projects as assigned

Prerequisites

No prior coursework is required.


Required Materials

Textbook:
Writing Today (3rd Edition), by Richard Johnson-Sheehan and Charles Paine
Published by Pearson

Online Library Access:
Students will have access to digital research materials through the institution’s online library system, integrated within the learning platform.


Grading and Evaluation

Each unit includes a checklist of activities and assessments to guide progress. Grades will be based on the following:

  • Assignments and Written Work: 40%
  • Discussion Participation: 40%
  • Quizzes: 20%

Grading Scale:

GradePercentageGPA Value
A90–100%4.0
B80–89%3.0
C70–79%2.0
FBelow 70%0.0
PPassN/A
WWithdrawalN/A
IIncompleteN/A

Late Work Policy:
Late submissions may be accepted at the discretion of the instructor but are not guaranteed. No work will be accepted after the final course deadline.

Missed Exams:
All exams will have a designated timeframe for completion. Ensure that you have reliable internet access and are free from distractions during exam periods.

Academic Integrity:
Use of AI-generated writing is not permitted unless specifically authorized. Any form of cheating or plagiarism may result in course failure and academic disciplinary action.


Attendance and Participation

This is an asynchronous online course, meaning there are no scheduled live sessions. Instead, your progress is tracked through the timely submission of coursework. Missing any required activity reduces clock hours, which can impact your final grade. Missing 25% or more of the course may result in automatic failure regardless of scores on other assignments.


Technology Requirements

To ensure smooth access to course materials and platforms, students should use:

Operating Systems:

  • Windows 7, 8, or newer
  • macOS 10.6 (Snow Leopard) or newer

Browsers:

  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Safari (Mac)
  • Internet Explorer 9 or 10 (Windows)

A stable internet connection is required. Course content may also require access to additional platforms like MyLab, Canvas, or a similar learning management system.


Delivery Mode

This course is offered in an online format with opportunities for virtual collaboration and group activities. Students are expected to engage actively in all components to meet course objectives.