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Course Description

Person writing with a pen on paper at a wooden table

This course is designed primarily for those not pursuing a specialization in English and focuses on the development of the skills for effective writing. Topics will include sentence and paragraph structure, essay organization, and the implementation of convincing written arguments. Students will apply these skills to the completion of several written assignments, culminating in a short work of non-fiction prose.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the learner should be able to:

  1. Identify the characteristics and basic structure of an essay;
  2. Describe and apply basic strategies for effective writing;
  3. Explain the functions of the parts of an essay; and
  4. Write a short, coherent, grammatically correct, persuasive academic essay.

Course Topics

  • The Power of Writing
  • The Essay
  • The Persuasive Essay
  • The Issue of Voice in Persuasive Argument
  • The Sentence as Basic Building Block
  • The Introductory Paragraph
  • Body Paragraphs
  • The Concluding Paragraph
  • Putting It All Together
  • The Editing Process
  • Proofreading and Style
  • Reflecting on Your Own Writing

Additional Requirements

Restriction(s): Not available to students registered in ENGL majors or minors.

Assessment

Assessment Item Weight
Quizzes (5 x 2%) 10%
Participation: Discussion Boards and PEAR Activities 10%
Draft Thesis 5%
Introductory Paragraph 10%
Short Essay Assignment 35%
Final Exam 30%
Total 100%

Technical Requirements

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*Course details are subject to change.

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Section Title
Effective Writing
Type
Online
Dates
January 06, 2025 to April 04, 2025
Contact Hours
36.0
Delivery Options
Online  
Course Fee(s)
Domestic Tuition Fee (0.5 units) $683.39 Click here to get more information
Domestic Tuition Fee - Non-Ontario (0.5 units) $745.75 Click here to get more information
International Tuition Fee (0.5 units) $3,379.57 Click here to get more information
Available for Credit
0.5 units
Reading List / Textbook
You may purchase your course textbook, or other required/supplementary reading and learning materials, from the University of Guelph Bookstore or the Guelph Campus Co-op Bookstore, or from another third-party seller. 
Section Notes
Note:  If you are in a degree program at the University of Guelph, please DO NOT register using the link above.  You must register through WebAdvisor.
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