Structure of Writing
Syllabus
Structure of Writing Course Overview The ability to speak and write concisely will help you be an effective communicator in a variety of situations. With strong communication skills, you can clearly express your thoughts, ideas, and expectations, and better understand the needs of other people. In this course, you will improve your writing by analyzing the structures of sentences and paragraphs. You will begin with simple sentences and progress to more complex sentences that join two or more related ideas. You will apply proper rules of grammar to your writing so that your readers understand your intent. To maintain your reader’s interest, you will learn how to enhance your work by rearranging ideas, creating rhythm, and introducing parallelism and logic. Near the end of the course, you will write a composition and a book report, applying the rules of grammar and writing strategies that you learned throughout the course.
Course Goals By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
Locate, identify, and describe the parts of a sentence. Ensure that the parts of a sentence agree with one another. Join two or more ideas in a sentence to add interest to your writing. Develop more complex sentence structures using appositives, gerunds, and antecedents. Adhere to the rules of grammar surrounding punctuation and capitalization. Add rhythm to your writing by building logical relationships in sentences and paragraphs. Recognize similarities and differences between paragraphs. Outline and draft a composition or essay. Apply the rules of grammar by analyzing a work of fiction or nonfiction. Learn how to write clearly and concisely.
General Skills To participate in this course, you should be able to do the following:
Complete basic operations with word processing software, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
1 © 2013 EDMENTUM, INC.
For a complete list of general skills that are required for participation in online courses, refer to the Prerequisites section of the Plato Student Orientation document, found at the beginning of this course.
Credit Value Structure of Writing is a 0.5-credit course.
Course Materials
Notebook Computer with Internet connection and speakers or headphones Microsoft Word or equivalent Some activities may require a visit to the school library or public library.
Course Pacing Guide This course description and pacing guide is intended to help you keep on schedule with your work. Note that your course instructor may modify the schedule to meet the specific needs of your class. Day 1 day: 1
Activity/Objective Syllabus and Plato Student Orientation Review the Plato Student Orientation and Course Syllabus at the beginning of this course.
Type Course Orientation
The Framework of the Simple Sentence Locate the subject, verb, and object in a simple sentence.
Lesson
Making Subject and Verb Agree Ensure that subjects and verbs are in corresponding forms to write understandable sentences.
Lesson
Using Verbs Correctly Study the guidelines for using the proper tense of verb.
Lesson
Lesson
15–19
Choosing Adjectives and Adverbs Differentiate between adjectives and adverbs in a sentence.
5 days:
Solving Pronoun Problems
Lesson
20–24
Adhere to rules when using pronouns and words surrounding pronouns, including appositives, gerunds, and antecedents.
5 days:
The Compound Sentence
25–29
Build a compound sentence by joining two or more simple sentences with a conjunction.
4 days: 2–5 5 days: 6–10 4 days: 11–14 5 days:
Lesson
2
5 days:
The Complex Sentence for Showing Relationship
30–34
Build a complex sentence by joining an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses.
5 days:
Other Devices for Subordination
35–39
Construct sentences using clauses that function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
5 days:
Recognizing the Sentence Unit
40–44
Know where to start and stop your sentences for effective writing.
1 day:
Midterm
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Assessment
45 5 days:
The Smooth-Running Sentence
46–50
Use the same pattern of words within a sentence to clearly express your ideas.
5 days:
Using the Apostrophe
51–55
Understand how the placement of an apostrophe can change the meaning of a sentence.
5 days:
Punctuation for Clearness
56–60
Study the major rules for punctuating sentences with commas and quotation marks.
5 days:
Controlling Your Capitals
61–65
Use proper rules of capitalization in your sentences.
5 days:
Sentence Combining
66–70
Add clarity and rhythm to your writing by joining related ideas and establishing logical relationships.
5 days:
Writing Paragraphs
71–75
Recognize similarities and differences between paragraphs, and develop paragraphs that keep your readers interested.
5 days:
Writing Composition and Business Letters
76–80
Identify the process for outlining and drafting a composition or essay.
5 days:
The Book Report
81–85
Apply the rules of grammar by analyzing the contents of a piece of fiction or nonfiction.
4 days:
Semester Review
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
86–89
3
1 day:
Final Exam
Assessment
90
4
Structure of Writing Course Overview The ability to speak and write concisely will help you be an effective communicator in a variety of situations. With strong communication skills, you can clearly express your thoughts, ideas, and expectations, and better understand the needs of other people. In this course, you will improve your writing by analyzing the structures of sentences and paragraphs. You will begin with simple sentences and progress to more complex sentences that join two or more related ideas. You will apply proper rules of grammar to your writing so that your readers understand your intent. To maintain your reader’s interest, you will learn how to enhance your work by rearranging ideas, creating rhythm, and introducing parallelism and logic. Near the end of the course, you will write a composition and a book report, applying the rules of grammar and writing strategies that you learned throughout the course.
Course Goals By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
Locate, identify, and describe the parts of a sentence. Ensure that the parts of a sentence agree with one another. Join two or more ideas in a sentence to add interest to your writing. Develop more complex sentence structures using appositives, gerunds, and antecedents. Adhere to the rules of grammar surrounding punctuation and capitalization. Add rhythm to your writing by building logical relationships in sentences and paragraphs. Recognize similarities and differences between paragraphs. Outline and draft a composition or essay. Apply the rules of grammar by analyzing a work of fiction or nonfiction. Learn how to write clearly and concisely.
General Skills To participate in this course, you should be able to do the following:
Complete basic operations with word processing software, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
1 © 2013 EDMENTUM, INC.
For a complete list of general skills that are required for participation in online courses, refer to the Prerequisites section of the Plato Student Orientation document, found at the beginning of this course.
Credit Value Structure of Writing is a 0.5-credit course.
Course Materials
Notebook Computer with Internet connection and speakers or headphones Microsoft Word or equivalent Some activities may require a visit to the school library or public library.
Course Pacing Guide This course description and pacing guide is intended to help you keep on schedule with your work. Note that your course instructor may modify the schedule to meet the specific needs of your class. Day 1 day: 1
Activity/Objective Syllabus and Plato Student Orientation Review the Plato Student Orientation and Course Syllabus at the beginning of this course.
Type Course Orientation
The Framework of the Simple Sentence Locate the subject, verb, and object in a simple sentence.
Lesson
Making Subject and Verb Agree Ensure that subjects and verbs are in corresponding forms to write understandable sentences.
Lesson
Using Verbs Correctly Study the guidelines for using the proper tense of verb.
Lesson
Lesson
15–19
Choosing Adjectives and Adverbs Differentiate between adjectives and adverbs in a sentence.
5 days:
Solving Pronoun Problems
Lesson
20–24
Adhere to rules when using pronouns and words surrounding pronouns, including appositives, gerunds, and antecedents.
5 days:
The Compound Sentence
25–29
Build a compound sentence by joining two or more simple sentences with a conjunction.
4 days: 2–5 5 days: 6–10 4 days: 11–14 5 days:
Lesson
2
5 days:
The Complex Sentence for Showing Relationship
30–34
Build a complex sentence by joining an independent clause with one or more dependent clauses.
5 days:
Other Devices for Subordination
35–39
Construct sentences using clauses that function as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.
5 days:
Recognizing the Sentence Unit
40–44
Know where to start and stop your sentences for effective writing.
1 day:
Midterm
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Assessment
45 5 days:
The Smooth-Running Sentence
46–50
Use the same pattern of words within a sentence to clearly express your ideas.
5 days:
Using the Apostrophe
51–55
Understand how the placement of an apostrophe can change the meaning of a sentence.
5 days:
Punctuation for Clearness
56–60
Study the major rules for punctuating sentences with commas and quotation marks.
5 days:
Controlling Your Capitals
61–65
Use proper rules of capitalization in your sentences.
5 days:
Sentence Combining
66–70
Add clarity and rhythm to your writing by joining related ideas and establishing logical relationships.
5 days:
Writing Paragraphs
71–75
Recognize similarities and differences between paragraphs, and develop paragraphs that keep your readers interested.
5 days:
Writing Composition and Business Letters
76–80
Identify the process for outlining and drafting a composition or essay.
5 days:
The Book Report
81–85
Apply the rules of grammar by analyzing the contents of a piece of fiction or nonfiction.
4 days:
Semester Review
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
Lesson
86–89
3
1 day:
Final Exam
Assessment
90
4
