Athabasca University

Syllabus

ENGL 255: Introductory Composition (Revision 2: Archived October 14, 1999)


Delivery mode: Home study or paced study
Touchtone registration course code number: 6862
Credits: 3 - No area of study
Prerequisite: None. All students will write a diagnostic test through which their strengths and weaknesses will be assessed. Students whose skills are deemed insufficient for ENGL 255 will be advised to withdraw and register in ENGL 155 Developing Reading and Writing Skills.

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Overview

ENGL 255 focuses on essay writing at the university level. In order to improve essay-writing skills, students study examples of good writing and write a summary and five essays, including an informal personal essay and four formal expository or persuasive essays.

This is not a creative writing course nor a course for people learning English as a second language. Nor is ENGL 255 a remedial course for students deficient in basic writing skills. This course assumes at least a senior high school level of competency in both grammar and composition.

If uncertain which writing skills course to take, students should consult the course coordinator.

Outline

Evaluation

To receive credit for ENGL 255, students must achieve a grade of at least 50 per cent on the final examination. The weighting of the course assignments is as follows:

Diagnostic Exam  0%
Personal Essay  10%
Comparison Essay  15%
Summary  10%
Expository Essay  15%
Persuasive Essay  15%
Essay on Language  25%
Journal Entries  0%
Final Exam  10%
Total  100%

Note: Weighting in most paced offerings is somewhat altered to accommodate a classwork component.

Course Materials

The course materials include a study guide, a student manual, and a reader.

Note: This syllabus was last updated September 29, 1998.

Course Listing

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This page was last modified by E. Comrie on November 15, 1998.