Essay Writing Skills

At the end of English 94 a student should

• be able to compose an essay of six to eight well-developed paragraphs (1000-1500 words).
• be able to create effective introductory and concluding paragraphs that demonstrate design and strategy.
• show clear skill at writing a focused thesis statement.
• show control over more complex transitional devices and strategies between sentences and paragraphs.
• be able to utilize a variety of pre-writing, drafting, editing, and revision techniques.
• be able to create detail and quote/cite examples that effectively demonstrate a point.
• be able to use deduction, induction, and tests of validity in building a logical argument.
• be able to develop an argument with some sophistication and complexity to it.
• be able to incorporate outside sources and research into an essay.
• be able to write using an objective thesis and topic sentence structure instead of first person ("I" voice).
• be able sustain formal tone and diction, especially when creating an argument.
• be using a variety of sentence patterns in developing a writing style.
• be able to write a complete essay in a timed (50-75 minute) setting.
• be comfortable using a dictionary and thesaurus--not just spell-check--on a regular basis during the composition and revision process.

Grammatical and Technical Skills

At the end of English 94 a student should

• show consistent control of verb tenses and point of view.
• show consistent control over and awareness of sentence boundaries, including confident use of the period and comma in avoiding fragments and run-ons.
• show increasing control over more complex subject-verb agreement and plural/singular patterns.
• show consistent mastery of coordination and the punctuation patterns that go with coordination.
• show consistent mastery of subordination and the punctuation patterns that go with subordination.
• know the differences between independent and dependent clauses and show some skill in using and punctuating each type of clause.
• show some skill at using more complex punctuation (semicolons, colons, dashes) to create sentence variety.

Reading Skills

At the end of English 94 a student should

• have a minimum score of 24 on the RFU 3 Test.
• be able to consistently identify a writer's thesis, topic sentences, and supporting information.
• be able to evaluate the logic and lines of reasoning a writer uses in developing an argument.
• be able to analyze the relationships between different elements of a reading assignment: how a thesis shapes the form of an essay, how sequence and strategy are served by examples and details, etc.
• not be asking the instructor or peers for definitions and information about a reading; instead, the student shows independence and self-reliance in obtaining that information.
• be finding and using outside readings and research to bolster argumentation and develop an essay.