The Academic Foundations English Area is devoted to helping students become more proficient, confident writers. Typically, students are seeking to improve their writing skills for more advanced college-level courses, focusing on work-related writing demands or concentrating their efforts for personal growth.

 

 

Review of basic grammar and writing skills with emphasis on creating proper sentence structure through combining, coordinating, and subordinating ideas in correct sentence form including application of the basic principles of grammar.

 

 

Introduction to basic paragraph writing (topic sentence, body sentences, concluding sentence) and the principles of correct grammar, usage, punctuation, and mechanics.

 

Introduction to the fundamentals of essay writing, including the stages of the composing process--pre-writing, drafting, and revising; introduction to planning, outlining, editing, and proofreading of the essay. Review of the grammatical principles governing correctness and effectiveness of expression in the use of the parts of speech, phrases and clauses, sentence structure, and paragraph organization.

 

 

Development of basic reading, writing, and research skills. Introduction to summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting in order to develop the reading and writing connection in the literary analysis, argument, and research papers. Review of grammar, basic essay writing, revising, and editing techniques. Emphasis is placed on reflective and analytical thinking.

Academic Foundations English faculty makes every attempt to meet and exceed each student's expectations. Whether working in the traditional classroom or in a computerized setting, faculty strives to create a comfortable environment which will promote high quality teaching and produce high quality learning.