Placement test.

Course prepares students for college writing. Content includes the writing process, the structure of multi-paragraph essays, and review of sentence structure, paragraph organization, grammar, and mechanics.

A.    Write short essays based on personal experience and assigned course readings.
B.    Develop these essays using a variety of well-developed paragraphs which are linked by simple transitions.
C.    Recognize and correct sentence fragments and run-on sentences, and correctly use simple, compound and complex sentences, as well as the conventions of Standard English.
D.    Use techniques of summary, paraphrase and direct quotation as needed in working with course readings.
E.    Demonstrate an understanding of plagiarism and source documentation.

Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton's Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits:

• cheating,
• plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
• falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
• helping others to cheat,
• unauthorized changes on official documents,
• pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
• making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
• any other behavior that violates academic integrity.

There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton's policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.
Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.

Sample Sequence:

  1. Review of paragraph structure
  2. Review of transitions, short essay structure
  3. Narrative/descriptive essays based on personal experience
  4. Summary, paraphrase, quotation
  5. Expository essays based on assigned readings
  6. WSAT review and practice

Topics in grammar and mechanics, to be taught concurrently:

  1. Spelling, homonyms
  2. Subject-verb agreement
  3. Sentence types:  simple, compound, complex
  4. Fragments
  5. Run-ons
  6. Pronoun agreement
  7. Pronoun reference
  8. Punctuation
  9. Capitalization
10. Diction: wordiness, cliché
11. Parallelism

Methods of presentation will vary among instructors:  some prefer traditional classroom procedures (lectures, discussion, class exercises); others prefer individualized one to one instruction in a modified lab setting.
Course may be taught as face-to-face, media-based, hybrid or online course.

Reading, weekly writing assignments, and testing

Check with the chairman for current list.

A.    Such measuring devices as writing samples, exercises and tests, will be used according to the instructor's guidelines.

B.    Writing assignments will occur at least weekly.

C.    The assessment test determines the next level of student placement in composition courses.

A.    Attendance policy

B.    For whatever information/procedures the instructor holds the student accountable.

C.    If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in the Learning Center. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.

If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services. To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in the Learning Center. All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements. The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.