This course is designed to develop proficiency in integrated and contextualized reading and writing skills and strategies. Topics include reading and writing processes, critical thinking strategies, and recognition and composition of well-developed, coherent, and unified texts; except where noted, these topics are taught at a reinforcement level using texts primarily in a Lexile (TM) range of 1070 to 1220. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate and apply those skills toward understanding a variety of complex academic and career texts and composing essays incorporating relevant, valid evidence. Please note: (TM) represents registered trademark.
| Competencies |
·Students will demonstrate the use of pre-reading, reading, and post-reading strategies, including applying a variety of
·previewing strategies to complex texts; activating prior knowledge; identifying important text attributes; using context clues;
·distinguishing between connotative and denotative meanings and between informal language and Standard Written English;
·employing introductory metacognitive strategies; identifying stated and implied main ideas at the introductory level; recognizing
·organizational patterns; responding in writing to complex texts using text-to-text connections; and paraphrasing and summarizing texts
·at an introductory level.
·Students will demonstrate the use of the writing process (prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading), including
·narrowing the focus of the text; establishing a clear main idea (thesis statement); generating supporting details for a specific purpose
·and audience; determining appropriate organization; composing and revising drafts; and using MLA or APA guidelines.
·Students will apply critical thinking strategies to analyze complex texts and to inform and strengthen their writing, including
·making logical conclusions based on prior knowledge and inference; understanding the difference between formal and informal
·language; using types of technical and academic language in complex texts; recognizing figurative language?simile, metaphor, and
·personification; determining the author?s purpose, point of view, and tone in complex texts; identifying fact and opinion statements in
·complex texts; demonstrating an understanding of verbal and situational irony; and understanding bias, logical fallacies, and
·propaganda techniques.
·Students will identify and write clear thesis statements, including identifying thesis statements in multi-paragraph complex texts,
·and writing clear, focused thesis statements for essays.
·Students will demonstrate an understanding of specific and adequate supporting information, including analyzing and
·evaluating body paragraphs in complex texts and student writings for specific and adequate support; assessing, synthesizing, and
·integrating relevant and valid evidence from assigned readings to support a main idea; avoiding plagiarism by paraphrasing; and
·documenting source material using MLA or APA guidelines.
·Students will achieve unity and coherence in essays, including identifying points that are off-topic in complex texts, and composing
·body paragraphs that support the thesis statement of an essay.
·Students will apply the conventions of Standard Written English.
·Students will employ appropriate technology when composing texts. |
2014FA - New Course (S23642) |