The Fundamental of Writing

Objectives of the Course

This is a course in essay writing. That implies that you must master certain skills that will enable you to write competent university essays. You must understand and be able to produce the techniques by which academic writers communicate to academic audiences. At the end of the course, you will able to demonstrate a command of the following skills:

1.      Prewriting: Think before writing

a.       Understand the assignment

b.      Choose a subject that you are interested in.

c.       Narrow the subject so that it can be adequately covered within the limits of the assignment

d.      Collect ideas

e.       Consider the audience

2.      Organization: write straightforward prose

a.       Begin and end the paper clearly

b.      Write a thesis statement of opinion and/or intent

c.       Move smoothly from one paragraph to another

3.      Development: support ideas

a.       Use specific details to explain general ideas

b.      Use facts, example, phsycal description, and personal experience to develop ideas

4.      Revision: look again, change adn strengthen

a.       Reconsider the needs of the audience

b.      Reconsider the purpose(s) of the paper

5.      Grammar and mechanics

a.       Use language with precision

b.      Avoid common errors of grammar and sentence structure

c.       Strengthen writing trough editing

Joy M. Reid\ colorado state university