Welcome to Language and Composition
This course is a study of the basics of composition including types of essays, how to analyze essay writing, and how to prewrite and edit your essays. The course also includes a description and understanding of rhetoric, argumentation, persuasion, and the rhetorical situation as it applies to past and current writing.
This is a self-paced online course. It contains 11 modules, each with multiple lessons that support varied approaches to help a student learn and engage with the topic, including readings, video, and a knowledge-check quiz.
This is a graded course, each student will receive a course transcript that reflects a final grade based on 11 module quizzes,11 module evidence activities, a mid-term exam and a final exam.
Two online proctored examinations, the mid-term and final, are included in the cost of the course.
Course Outcomes
This course focuses on the following learning outcomes. By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Analyze and interpret the function essays of different genres.
- Implement composition basics of prewriting, drafts, and editing to construct an essay.
- Create original essays based on the function and purpose of different essay genres.
- Evaluate and apply composition basics of editing, ethics, documentation, and citations to original essays.
- Apply the elements of the Rhetorical situation to essay analysis and original writing.
- Evaluate and explain elements of argumentation and persuasion as they apply to writing and rhetorical situations.
Technology Requirements
PC Requirements
Hardware
- Intel Core 2 Duo (or AMD 64×2 Dual-Core) processor
- 1 GB RAM
- 80 GB hard drive
- 1024×768 resolution monitor
- Soundcard with microphone and speakers
- Built-in or external webcam
- Broadband internet connection with speeds of at least 2 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload. Hot spots are not recommended. Test internet speed at: http://www.speedtest.net
- Browser with pop-up blocker disabled
Software
- Windows 7 or above
Macintosh Requirements
Hardware
- Intel Core 2 Duo (or AMD 64×2 Dual-Core) processor
- 1 GB RAM
- 80 GB hard drive
- 1024×768 resolution monitor
- Soundcard with microphone and speakers
- Built-in or external webcam
- Broadband internet connection with speeds of at least 2 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload. Hot spots are not recommended. Test internet speed at: http://www.speedtest.net
- Browser with pop-up blocker disabled
Software
- Mac OS 10.6 “Snow Leopard” or above
Tablet or Smartphone
NOTICE: Though you can view and interact with all of the available course content on a tablet or smartphone, you MUST USE A DESKTOP OR LAPTOP computer to complete the proctored midterm and final examinations.
Hardware
- 2 GHz process or faster
- 1 GB RAM or greater
- 80 GB hard drive
- Microphone and speakers
- Wireless internet connection
Course Outline
Module 1 – The History and Design of the Essay
The History of the Essay
- What is an essay?
- Why do we write essays?
- What is academic or formal writing?
Essay Elements and Types of Essays
- What is the function of an essay?
- What are the elements of an essay?
- What are common types of essays?
- How do different fields of study use essay writing?
Susan B. Anthony: “On Women’s Right to Vote”
- Susan B. Anthony
- The women’s suffrage movement
- Read “One Woman’s Right to Vote.”
Louisa May Alcott: “Death of a Soldier”
- Louisa May Alcott
- The role of women in the Civil War
- Read “Death of a Soldier.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Self Reliance”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- What is transcendentalism?
- Read “Self-Reliance.”
Module 2 – The Rhetorical Situation: Purpose, Audience, Speaker
Effective Writing and the Rhetorical Situation
- The Basic Elements of Effective Writing: Writer, Message, and Reader
- Rhetoric and the Rhetorical Situation
- The Six Components of the Rhetorical Situation
Writing for an Audience
- Identifying Audience
- Audience Level
- Audience Background
- Audience Values and Beliefs
Essay Writer as Speaker
- Credibility/Expertise
- Language
- Personality/Voice
Essay Analysis: Frederick Douglass: “The Destiny of Colored Americans”
- Frederick Douglass
- Slavery and Emancipation in the U.S.
- Frederick Douglass’ purpose and audience
- Frederick Douglass’ credibility and how he presents himself
Module 3 – Composition Basics: Prewriting
Brainstorming
- The goal of prewriting
- Brainstorming
- Clustering
- Freewriting
- Using prompts and constraints to kickstart prewriting
Clustering Ideas
- Clustering
- Mapping
- Group Clustering
Freewriting
- The goal of freewriting
- Freewriting as process
- Focused freewriting
Creating an Outline
- The benefits of outlines
- Formatting an outline to capture an essay’s structure
- Categorizing subtopics
- Organizing an essay
- Descriptive outlines
Module 4 – Composition Basics: Paragraphs and Drafting
Writing a Clear Opening
- Writing for relevance
- Writing for clarity
- Writing for your intended audience
- Writing to engage interest
- Communicating a clear plan to your reader
Thesis Statements
- Identifying the purpose or argument of an essay
- The types of thesis statements
- Developing a thesis statement
- Revising a thesis statement
Body Paragraphs
- The purpose of body paragraphs
- Structuring an effective body paragraph
- Ordering body paragraphs within an essay
Developing an Idea
- Methods for developing an idea
- Strategies for evaluating and analyzing your thoughts
- Anticipating questions and counter-arguments
- Researching other viewpoints
- Adding support for your idea
Building an Effective Conclusion
- Rephrasing the main idea and supporting thoughts
- Re-establishing relevance
- Encouraging reader reflection
Essay Analysis: Edgar Allan Poe “The Philosophy of Furniture”
- Edgar Allen Poe
- Read “The Philosophy of Furniture”
Module 5 – Narrative and Descriptive Essays
Narrative and Descriptive Essays: Purpose and Organization
- Define narrative and descriptive essays
- Basic elements employed in narrative and descriptive essays
- Organizational strategies for narrative and descriptive writing
- The Rhetorical Situation for narrative and descriptive writing
Narrative and Descriptive Essays: Technique, Topic, and Style
- Review definition and basic elements of narrative and descriptive essays
- Principles of narration
- Principles of description
- Choosing a narrative or descriptive topic
- Review a sample outline
Narrative and Descriptive Essays: Reading Samples
- Reading strategies for narrative and descriptive essays
- Read “A South African Storm”
Narrative and Descriptive Essays: Writing Your Own
- Developing Ideas for Narrative/Descriptive Writing
- Refining Purpose in Narrative/Descriptive Writing
- Writing a Thesis for a Narrative/Descriptive Essay
- Drafting a Narrative/Descriptive Essay
- Revising a Narrative/Descriptive Essay
Revising for Higher Order Concerns
- What are high-order concerns?
- Checking the thesis and focus
- Reading for audience and purpose
- Reviewing organization
- Evaluating an essay’s development
Editing for Lower Order Concerns
- Editing for grammar
- Editing for mechanics
- Editing for sentence structure
- Editing for style
Module 6 – Classification and Definition Essays
Classification and Definition Essays: Purpose and Organization
- Purpose of Definition/Classification Writing
- Basic elements employed in classification and definition essays
- Organizational strategies for classification and definition writing
- The Rhetorical Situation for classification and definition writing
Classification and Definition Essays: Technique, Topic, and Style
- Choosing a classification or definition topic.
- Choosing the right word/concept for definition essays
- Developing a thesis that supports your claim
Classification and Definition Essays: Reading Samples
- Rhetorically reading a classification essay
- Fred Mednick’s “Multiple Intelligences”
Classification and Definition Essays: Writing Your Own
- Planning a classification or definition essay
- Outlining and drafting a classification or definition essay
- Revising a classification or definition essay
- Editing a classification or definition essay
Module 7 – Compare and Contrast Essays
Compare and Contrast Essays: Purpose and Organization
- Defining compare and contrast essays
- Basic writing elements used in compare and contrast essays
- Presentation and organizational strategies for compare and contrast writing
- The Rhetorical Situation for compare and contrast writing
Compare and Contrast Essays: Technique, Topic, and Style
- Discovering similarities and differences between two or more things
- Types of comparison
- Choosing a topic for compare and contrast essays
Compare and Contrast Essays: Reading Samples
- Reading strategies for compare and contrast essays
- Read “Nature vs. Nurture, Then and Now”
Compare and Contrast Essays: Writing Your Own
- Planning a compare and contrast essay
- Outlining and drafting a compare and contrast essay
- Revising a compare and contrast essay
- Editing a compare and contrast essay
Module 8 – Cause and Effect Essays
Cause and Effect Essays: Purpose and Organization
- Defining cause and effect essays
- Writing strategies for cause and effect essays
- Presentation and organizational strategies for cause and effect writing
- The Rhetorical Situation for cause and effect writing
Cause and Effect Essays: Technique, Topic, and Style
- Causes and effects Evidence and reasoning
- Organizational strategies for cause and effect writing
- Choosing a cause and effect topic
Cause and Effect Essays: Reading Samples
- Reading strategies for cause and effect writing
- Read “Body Ritual among the Nacirema”
Cause and Effect Essays: Writing Your Own
- Planning a cause and effect essay
- Choosing a topic for a cause and effect essay
- Revising a cause and effect essay
- Editing a cause and effect essay
Module 9 – Argumentation and Persuasion
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
- Two ways of understanding: inductive and deductive
- The power of inductive reasoning
- The power of deductive reasoning Evaluating the truth of a premise
Making Arguments
- What is an argument?
- Common types of arguments
- Making and supporting claims
- Using appropriate appeals
Responding to Arguments
- Engaging the opposition in dialogue
- Refutation and rebuttal
- Making counter-arguments
Logical Fallacies
- Types of logical fallacies
- Finding logical fallacies in writing
Module 10 – Writing Papers and Essays with Documentation
Academic Integrity and Ethical Writing Practices
- Academic integrity
- Defining plagiarism
- Avoiding plagiarism
- The importance of citing your sources
- Tips for avoiding academic dishonesty
Finding and Using Evidence Effectively
- The research process
- Finding sources
- Evaluating sources
- Advanced search strategies
- Understanding primary, secondary, and tertiary sources
Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting
- Summarizing
- Quoting and paraphrasing
Using MLA Format to Create In-Text Citations and Works Cited Page for Your Sources
- MLA Formatting
- The importance of citation
- Creating a works-cited page
- Creating in-text citations
Writing Your Paper with Documentation
- Planning a research essay
- Outlining and drafting a research essay
- Revising a research essay
- Editing a research essay
Module 11 – Argumentative Essays
Argumentative Essays: Purpose and Organization
- Defining argumentative essay
- Basic writing strategies for argumentative essays
- Preparation and organizational strategies for argumentative writing
- The Rhetorical Situation for argumentative writing
Argumentative Essays: Technique, Topic, and Style
- Choosing a topic and a side to defend
- Gathering evidence for an essay
- Developing your argument and responding to counter-arguments
- Structuring your essay
- Read a sample outline
Argumentative Essays: Reading Samples
- Reading strategies for argumentative essays
- Read “A Message to Garcia”
Argumentative Essays: Writing Your Own
- Planning an argumentative essay
- Outlining and drafting an argumentative essay
- Revising an argumentative essay
- Editing an argumentative essay
To be eligible for transferable college credit for this course, TEL Library must be able to verify your identity via a government issued photo ID. You will need an ID to complete the proctored mid-term and final examinations, as well as apply for a transcript. You can being your studies in this course while obtaining the appropriate identification, but you must have the government issued photo ID prior to scheduling the mid-term exam.
Complete these steps before you begin your first TEL Library course.
Create a TEL Library account (if you don’t already have one).
- Register for an account at TEL Library Courses
- Activate your account via the email link from the TEL Library.
- Complete your profile by clicking the Edit Tab, including information about your parent or guardian if appropriate.
Select your courses.
- Determine which courses are right for you since most TEL Library courses are offered via 3 different methods.
- College Credit Courses: These courses are traditional graded courses that can be transfered for college credit. Students will earn a grade that will be on their official TEL Library transcript. These courses require that students have a photo ID to complete the mid-term, final and obtain a transcript. Please note, you do not need to purchase a textbook in addition to the course.
The grade for these courses is based upon:- Participation and completion of each lesson = 10% of the final grade
- Graded module quizzes = 15% of the final grade
- Graded module evidence activities = 25% of the final grade
- Graded proctored mid-term examination = 25% of the final grade
- Graded proctored final examination = 25% of the final grade
- Certificate Courses: These courses contain all of the same learning content as the College Credit Courses, but do not require the completion of evidence activities, and midterm and final examinations. The outcome for participants is a TEL library Certificate of Completion and publicly sharable Badge. Please note, you do not need to purchase a textbook in addition to the course.
To be eligible for full course completion, participants must- Complete each lesson, including the Check Your Knowledge activity.
- Obtain a grade of 80% or higher on the module quizzes. Each participant is given 3 attempts to reach this grade.
Participants will not be required to complete or have access to evidence activities, mid-term or final examinations.
- Textbooks: TEL Library Textbooks contain all of the same learning content of the College Credit Courses, but do not include any formal assessment activities. Purchasers can complete the lesson activities, but no points, grade or certifications will be tracked or awarded.
- College Credit Courses: These courses are traditional graded courses that can be transfered for college credit. Students will earn a grade that will be on their official TEL Library transcript. These courses require that students have a photo ID to complete the mid-term, final and obtain a transcript. Please note, you do not need to purchase a textbook in addition to the course.
Start Learning!
- Login to your TEL Library account
- Find and purchase courses on our catalog page.
- College Credit and Certificate courses are self-paced and you can complete them on your schedule. We suggest that you follow either the 7 or 14 week schedules included on the Course Documents Tab.
Have more questions?
- Not sure which course to purchase?
- Want to adopt one of our textbooks for a course you are teaching?
- Contact us at
- support@tellibrary.org
- 1-866-714-9907
