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Revision 4 closed, replaced by current version.
Delivery mode: Individualized study or grouped study.
Credits: 3 - Humanities (effective Sept. 1, 2007).
Prerequisite: Students who have not done any formal writing for some time or who feel that their basic skills might be weak should consider taking ENGL 155 or, for ESL needs, ENGL 177 or ENGL 187. Students who feel uncertain which course to choose may consult the course coordinator.
Télé-université du Québec equivalency: ANG 4005: Effective Written Communication
Centre: Centre for Language and Literature
ENGL 255 has a Challenge for Credit option.
Course website
ENGL 255 focuses on essay writing at the university level. In order to improve the necessary skills, students study examples of good writing, do two short summaries, participate in critical exchanges (if possible, these are done online with other course students), and complete four other short writing assignments covering a spectrum of styles and purposes. The course is designed to recognize students’ personal interests, objectives, and learning styles and to provide flexible scheduling options.
ENGL 255 provides some grammar review but assumes at least a senior high school level of competency in both grammar and composition.
By the end of this course, you should be able to
Unit 1: Diagnostic Activities
Unit 2: Summaries
Unit 3: Critical Exchange
Unit 4: Special Project
Unit 5: Writing an Essay Using Sources
Unit 6: Argumentation
Unit 7: A Critical Analysis
You must receive “D” (50 percent) or higher on the examination and an overall average of “D” (50 percent) or higher to pass the course. Assignments not submitted by the course contract completion date (end of active registration) receive a grade of 0. The weighting of the course assignments is as follows:
| Diagnostic Paragraphs (1 page) | 0% |
| Summaries (1-1 ½ pages) | 10% |
| Critical Exchange (may be done online) | 15% |
| Special Project (4 pages) | 10% |
| Essay Using Sources (3-4 pages) | 15% |
| Argumentative Essay (4 pages) | 20% |
| Critical Analysis (4 pages) | 20% |
| Final Examination (3 hours) | 10% |
| Total | 100% |
Note: Weighting in most grouped-study offerings is somewhat altered to accommodate a classwork component.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Brundage, David and Michael Lahey. Acting on Words: An Integrated Reader, Rhetoric, and Handbook. Toronto: Pearson, 2004.
Heckman, Grant. Nelson Guide to Web Research 2003-2004. Toronto: Thomson Nelson, 2003.
Brundage, David. English 255: Introductory Composition Student Guide. Athabasca: Athabasca University, 2003.
In addition to these texts you will need a dictionary suitable for university study. English Language Support materials are available online.
If you need writing help, contact the Write Site.