DEPARTMENTAL COURSE SYLLABUS
COLLEGE SKILLS
Title of Course:
College Writing Skills
Course Number:
CP 02003
Prerequisites:
Score between 23 and 37 on the ASSET or between 0-41 on the COMPASS
placement test or 13 or below on the ACT.
Course Catalog Description: College Writing Skills is designed to help students master
the essential rules of grammar, mechanics, punctuation,
and, usage needed for clear, effective writing, and for
success in academic courses. This course is required for
students who score between 23 and 37 on the ASSET or
between 0-41 on the COMPASS placement test or 13 or
below on the ACT.
Required Text:
Langan, John. Exploring Writing: Sentences and Paragraphs. First Edition. New
York: MCGraw-Hill, 2010.
Required Materials:
Loose-leaf paper, pen with black ink, pencil, and journal.
Rationale:
College Writing Skills will provide students with the
competencies necessary for success in academic and
professional careers. To speak, listen, and write
competently in a critical and organized manner are
requisites in the world of college and work.
End of Course Objectives:
Students will be able to:
1. Define and identify a sentence, a clause, and a fragment.
2. Define and identify the subject and verb.
3. Define and identify subject-verb agreement.
4. Define and identify pronoun-antecedent agreement.
5. Define and identify a modifier, an adjective, and an adverb.
6. Define and identify all verb tenses: regular and irregular.
7. Define and identify prepositional phrases.
Topic or Unit Outline with Objectives and Rationale for Each Unit:
Week 1
Rationale: Students need to know the course requirements and guidelines to ensure they are successful in the
course.
Objectives: The student will be able to:
1)
Understand the course outline for the semester.
2)
To locate materials in the library.
3)
Take pretest
4)
Write assessment paragraph
Week Two
UNIT II, Sentences
Rationale: Identifying the crucial parts of a sentence is the first step in many writing decisions.
Objectives: The student will be able to:
1)
Recognize a sentence
2)
Recognize subjects and verbs
Week Three



Chapter 6 Review
Lab work – Handout
Test Chapter 6
Week Four
 Chapter 7: Fragments pp. 162-178
Rationale: Students need to know what fragments are and how to eliminate them from their writing.
Objectives: The student will be able to:
1) Identify fragments
2) Eliminate fragments
Week Five
 Chapter 7 Review
 Test Chapter 7
Introduce Chapter 8: Run-Ons pp. 179-194
Rationale: Students need to know how to punctuate correctly to prevent run-ons.
Objectives: The student will be able to
1) Recognize run-ons
2) Eliminate run-ons
Week Six
 Lecture and Discuss Chapter 8
Introduce Chapter 9: Sentence Variety I pp. 195-208
Rationale: Sentence Variety adds life and rhythm to writing. Too many sentences with the same structure and length
can grow monotonous for readers. Varying sentence style and structure can also reduce repetition and add emphasis.
Objectives: The student will be able to
1) Recognize the four traditional sentence patterns
2) Write sentences using the four traditional sentence patterns.
Week Seven
 Lecture and Discuss Chapter 9
Week Eight
 Test Chapter 9
Introduce Chapter 12: Subject-Verb Agreement pp.231-240
Rationale: Subject-verb agreement is essential for proper grammar.
Objectives: The student well be able to
1) Understand that subjects and verbs must agree in number.
2) Realize that all singular verbs end in “s”
3) Understand that indefinite pronouns always take singular verbs
4) Understand that the subject is never found in a prepositional phrase
Week Nine
 Lecture and Discuss Chapter 12
Introduce Chapter 13: Consistent Verb Tense pp.241-244
Rationale: Keeping verbs in the correct tense helps to avoid confusion when writing.
Objectives: The student will be able to
1) Understand the importance of keeping verbs in the same tense
2) Use verbs tense correctly within sentences and paragraphs
Introduce Chapter 15: Pronoun Reference, Agreement, and, Point of View pp. 252-262
Rationale: It is important that pronouns agree with their antecedents and that they have clear references
Objectives: The students will be able to
1) Understand that a sentence may be confusing and unclear if a pronoun appears to refer to more
than one word.
2) Define antecedent
3) Ensure that a pronoun agree in number with the word or word it replaces.
4) Understand that pronouns should not shift their point of view unnecessarily.
Week Ten
 Lecture and Discuss Chapter 15
 Complete Worksheet for Chapter 15
Introduce Chapter 17: Adjectives and Adverbs pp. 276-282
Rationale: Writing needs to be descriptive, vivid, and specific
Objectives: The student will be able to
1) Define Adjective and adverb
2) See that adjectives often reflect one of the five senses
3) Use adjectives and adverbs correctly
4) Know the degrees of adjectives
5) Know that most adverbs end in “ly”
Week Eleven
 Lecture and Discuss Chapter 17
Week Twelve
 Test Chapter 17
Introduce Chapter 18: Misplaced Modifiers pp.283-288
Rationale: Student writing should present only one meaning
Objectives: The student will be able to
1) Identify misplaced modifiers
2) Put the modifier as close as possible to the word, phrase, or clause it modifies
Introduce Chapter 19: Dangling Modifiers pp. 289-294
Rationale: Dangling modifiers can also present more than one meaning if they are used incorrectly.
Objectives: The student will be able to
3) Recognize dangling modifiers
4) Correct dangling modifiers by
a. Placing the subject within the opening word group, or
b. Placing the subject right after the opening word group
Week Thirteen
 Lecture and Discuss Chapter 19
Introduce Chapter 20: Faulty Parallelism pp. 295-303
Rationale: Writing needs balanced structure
Objectives: The student will be able to
1) Define parallelism
2) Put matching words and ideas into matching structures
3) Learn the two steps in checking a sentence for parallel structure
 Journals Due (November 8-9)
Week Fourteen
 Lecture and Discuss Chapter 20
 Complete Worksheet for Chapter 20
Week Fifteen
 End- of-Course Review
 Compass Testing
Week Sixteen
 End-of-Course Review
 End-of-Course Assessment
Course Requirements/Policies
Late Work and Make-up Policy:
In-class assignments, chapter tests, and homework can be made up by students outside of class time on
campus. Students have only two weeks to make up missed assignments. It is the student’s responsibility
to arrange to make up missed work. The final exam cannot be made up.
Attendance Policy: Attendance is extremely important. It is vital for students to be in class every time it
meets. Please make every effort to be present at the scheduled class time, and please be on time.
Excessive absences (3) or more may result in failure of the course if the student cannot make-up missed
assignments in a timely manner. If excessive absences are accumulated, students may need to consider
withdrawing from the class. It is strongly suggested that classes not be missed except in cases of extreme
emergencies. Excessive absences will definitely negatively affect students’ grades.
Professionalism Policy: Students who enter the learning environment late must do so as discreetly as
possible and sit down. No explanation of lateness is required during class. Late students must meet with
instructor after class for explanation.
For Face to Face course: Per classroom etiquette, cell phones must be silenced during all classroom and
lab lectures. Those not adhering to this rule will be asked to leave the classroom immediately so as to not
disrupt the learning environment.
Course Credits
Upon the successful completion of College Writing Skills (CP02003), the student will not receive
undergraduate credit
Basis for Final Grade
Assessment
Chapter Tests
Worksheets
Attendance
Journals
Comprehensive Exam
Percent of Final Grade
50%
10%
10%
10%
20%
100%
Insert grading scale here. We have provided a template for your grading scale. Feel free to adjust for your own
grading scale, if different:
Grading Scale (%)
94-100
A
88 - 93
B
80 - 87
C
60 - 79
D
0 - 59
F
Grade Dissemination
Students will be given their homework and in-class assignments grades by the instructor after the
assignments and homework have been graded. Mid-term and final grades can be accessed using Campus
Connect on myANC. Please note that scores returned mid-term are unofficial grades. If you need help
accessing myANC contact the ANC Helpdesk by email: ANChelp@smail.anc.edu.