Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon completion of the course students should be able to:

1. Use written English to communicate as related to roles as family member, community member, workers, life long learner, college student, and citizen.
2. Write a clear, well-developed three-paragraph essay with a separate introductory paragraph with thesis statement, body paragraph and concluding paragraph.
3. Write compositions using the four rhetorical styles.

1. Complete a minimum of six compositions using three rhetorical styles, with a minimum of 2 drafts each. These compositions will include satisfactory in-class (minimum of 3) and out-of-class compositions. 
2. Produce a multi-paragraph essay.
3. Write and successfully send at least 1 email using correct formatting.
4. Create a paragraph as a Word document and send it as an email attachment.

Addendum: Explanation of Satisfactory Compositions

A satisfactory composition includes the following:

1. selection of a topic worthy of adult communication
2. adequate paragraph development
3. appropriate topic sentence
4. seventy percent accuracy in the grammatical areas listed under Competencies and Skills, Section A
5. level and audience-appropriate vocabulary
6. level-appropriate signal words and transitions
7. sentence variety

In addition to the above general criteria, the following specific criteria will be used:
A satisfactory in-class composition:

1. is one page handwritten double-spaced
2. includes development that is at least 70 percent as thorough as a satisfactory out-of-class paragraph

A satisfactory out-of-class composition is the equivalent of half a typed double-spaced page, approximately 125 words.

A. Grammar Review and Instruction

1. Phrases and Clauses
2. Verbs and Related Structures
3. Other Parts of Speech
4. Mechanics

B. Writing Process

C. Rhetorical Styles

D. Critical Thinking Skills

Competencies and Skills

A. Grammar Review and Instruction

1. Sentences, Clauses, and phrases

a. use basic sentence structure with action, nonaction (linking), transitive and intransitive verbs

b. use simple and compound and complex sentences 

c. use prepositional and transitional phrases

d. recognize and correct comma splices, run-ons, and fragments

2. Verbs and Related Structures

a. use simple present, simple pats (regular and irregular forms), simple future, present continuous, and past continuous,

b.      use subject-verb agreement in simple present tense with abstract and group nouns (e.g. class, family)

c.      use yes/no and wh- questions

d.     use ability, possibility, advice, and necessity modals in the present and future

e.     use present perfect 

f.       begin to use gerunds and infinitives

3. Other Parts of Speech

a.    identify parts of speech and their functions in sentences (e.g. subject-verb-complement) 

b.   use adverbs of place, time, frequency, and intensity, count and non-count nouns, comparative and superlative adjectives,

c.  use basic article rules

d.  use indefinite pronouns (e.g. someone, anybody, no one) and adjectives of quantity (e.g. some, much, any)

4. Mechanics

a.    use basic punctuation (periods, commas, question marks, and quotation marks)

b.   use capitalization, margins, and paragraph indentation

c.    use spelling rules and common spelling patterns

B.  The Writing Process

1. use prewriting skills, including brainstorming, group discussion of topics, narrowing a topic, and outlining
2. revise and edit multiple drafts, understanding error correction symbols and using self- and peer-editing strategies
3. organize paragraphs correctly, using topic sentences, supporting details and examples, coherence and unity
4. use correct format for papers
5. avoid plagiarism
6. produce a correctly formatted, typed document that is word compatible

C.   Rhetorical Styles

1. competently use the following rhetorical styles in compositions:  a.  narration in the past or present,  b. description (person or place), c. expository (choice of  process, reasons and examples,  comparison /contrast)

D. Critical Thinking Skills

1. synthesize ideas from multiple sources (e.g. readings, class discussions, personal experience) in writing assignments
2. avoid plagiarism
3. distinguish between narration, description, and expository writing
4. identify topics of equal class for comparison or contrast
5. distinguish between formal and informal language for audience and purpose
6. distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information