ENG 098: Basics of Composition

Introduction

This course focuses on developing three skills crucial for academic success: critical reading, critical writing, and clarity of written expression (including grammar and sentence skills). In pursuit of strengthening these skills, students will complete weekly reading and writing assignments, grammar reviews, and discussions. The course begins with structuring paragraphs and progresses to drafting and revising short essays.

The best way to master a skill set is to practice. Additionally, guidance and feedback are essential. In this course, students will have numerous opportunities to interact with classmates in discussions, to practice skills introduced in weekly lessons, and to receive individual feedback from the instructor.

Description

UW Colleges Catalog Course Description for ENG 098: Basics of Composition - 3 non-degree credits. A composition course focusing on the conventions of academic writing, standard written English, the composing process, critical thinking, and critical reading. Emphasis will be on reading and writing activities designed to prepare students for successful transition to college-level writing.

Proficiencies

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

Rhetorical Knowledge

  • Audience
    • Begin to identify formality and informality in academic writing
    • Identify the intended audience and purpose of a text
  • Rhetorical Situation and Purpose
    • Begin to recognize different kinds of reading and writing situations
    • Begin to recognize conventions of format and structure appropriate to different kinds of reading and writing situations
  • Form
    • Begin to recognize disciplinary and generic conventions that shape the form of a text

Knowledge of Conventions

  • Understand and identify the conventions of standard written English
  • Write structurally sound sentences, using appropriate syntax and adhering to grammar conventions
  • Make progress toward appropriate language usage, punctuation and word choice

Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing

  • Thinking
    • Begin to use writing for inquiry, learning, thinking, and communicating
    • Begin to recognize power of language
    • Begin to consider multiple perspectives
  • Reading
    • Understand the difference between academic and nonacademic writing
    • Summarize a text
    • Identify the topic sentence of a paragraph and the overall main point or thesis (when explicit) of a text
    • Distinguish between literal and figurative meaning
  • Writing
    • Write paragraphs and topic sentences
    • Organize a cohesive essay focusing on a main point and arranging ideas in a logical order
    • Use transitional words between sentences and paragraphs
    • Use examples to support an idea
    • Use coordination and subordination in structuring sentences
    • Produce a written response to a reading

Processes

  • Develop an awareness of the writing process
  • Plan, draft, revise, and edit essays
  • Understand the process of invention and revision
  • Learn how to work collaboratively

Requirements

Software

  • Microsoft Word
    The most current edition of MS Office (containing MS Word, Excel and other valuable programs) is available to University of Wisconsin students at discounted prices through the Wisconsin Integrated Software Catalog.

About the Instructors

  • Photo of Stephanie JohnsonStephanie Johnson
    Lecturer, English
    BA, Middlebury College
    MFA, Emerson College