Class Syllabus: Writing Basics 101: Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation, Writing Structures
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Class Syllabus: Writing Basics 101: Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation, Writing Structures

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Office Hours: Continuous
Course Meeting Times: Continuous
 

Course Description

Most of us learned spelling and grammar in elementary school and brushed up on the rules occasionally in junior high or middle school.  Once we entered high school, it was assumed we knew and remembered all of the essentials -- and slowly we discovered that although there were some rules we just had to look up, we simply stopped worrying about "the minor details." It's time to relearn those "minor details" that can help you write, and read more effectively.  But it's hard to fix something unless you know how it works. 

Writing basics 101This self-paced, stress-free course was developed not only for students wanting to improve their basic writing skills, but also for business writers, creative writers and office staff wanting to improve poor work related writing and avoid embarrassing their boss and themselves.

Our innovative course is designed as a refresher course for those who need to brush up on their skills and a reference for anyone who wants to be able to look up the rules for confusing grammatical questions quickly and easily.  After you've reviewed the basic rules of grammar and spelling, you can move on to the lessons on writing style for tips on improving your sentence and paragraph structure, how to polish your writing and how to avoid common errors.
 
And because the course is online doesn't mean that you'll be left on your own.  The instructor will be grading assignments and tests and is available through email to answer questions and provide guidance.  Why not join us, learn at your own pace and your own schedule and reap the benefits?

Course Requirements

There are no educational requirements other than a high school reading level.

Course Goals

Goals for Complete Grammar Course

-          Review Basic Spelling Rules

-          Become familiar with Common Homonyms and frequently Misspelled Words

-          To understand spelling dilemmas such as ‘ie’ vs. ‘ei’

-          Review Parts of Speech and Basic Grammar Rules

-          Review the forms and proper usage of Punctuation

-          To become familiar with the structure and forms of the Writing Process

-          Learn tips and strategies for proofreading and editing

Course Materials

All course materials will be online and no outside purchases will be required.

 

Grading Policy

The course consists of several lessons divided into four subjects which focus on Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation, and Writing Improvement topics. At the end of each lesson will be brief quiz and/or assignment based on the lesson material. There are points for assignments and quizzes and class participation in forums (discussions). A percentage grade will be given based on point accumulation.

Outline

  1. Introduction
  2. Lesson 1: The Basic Rules of Spelling
  3. Lesson 2: Commonly Misspelled Words
  4. Lesson 3: Plural Forms for Names, Compound Words and Numbers
  5. Lesson 4: Understanding 'ie' Versus'ei' and Other Spelling Dilemmas
  6. Lesson 5: Prefix and Suffix Rules
  7. Lesson 6: Common Prefixes and Suffixes
  8. Lesson 7: Homonyms
  9. Lesson 8: Subject and Predicate
  10. Lesson 9: Verb Tenses
  11. Lesson 10: Nouns and Pronouns
  12. Lesson 11: Adjectives and Adverbs
  13. Lesson 12: The Phrase
  14. Lesson 13: The Clause
  15. Lesson 14: Periods and Other End Stops
  16. Lesson 15: Commas
  17. Lesson 16: Apostrophes
  18. Lesson 17: Colons and Semicolons
  19. Lesson 18: Hyphens
  20. Lesson 19: Quotation Marks
  21. Lesson 20: Refining Your Sentences
  22. Lesson 21: Paragraph Structure
  23. Lesson 22: Types of Paragraphs
  24. Lesson 23: Writing Dialogue
  25. Lesson 24: Proofreading and Revising Your Writing
  26. Additional Writing Resources

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