WRIT080 - Academic Writing and Critical Thinking
Course Description
This course is designed to help participants continue to hone their writing, research, and critical thinking skills. Through a series of selected readings and assignments, participants will develop a working understanding of the writing process, the rhetorical principles of voice and purpose that guide what and how one writes, and the basics of assessing research and academic argument. All assignments will be formatted and cited using APA conventions.
Course Outline
This course begins with the end in mind. Each assignment builds upon the skills developed in the previous assignment to help you become comfortable and competent in using sources to make and support your own point of view in a way that follows the conventions of academic arguments. Each assignment functions as a steppingstone to develop the skills required to complete the final assignment. You will start by learning how to write a summary sentence. From there you will progress to writing a summary paragraph and a compare/contrast paragraph. Finally, you will learn to write an argumentative essay. Gaining skills in these four areas will serve you well in both your academic and business writing.
This course is instructed by various RRU associate faculty. Your instructor will provide on-going support to you on your writing assignments, including comments and guidance on your revisions and drafts. You will also work with peers to share instructor's comments and suggestions for revising your assignments to bolster your understanding and experience of the writing process.
Learner Outcomes
- Identify individual challenges to effective writing
- Present ideas and arguments effectively
- Substantiate claims with evidence
- Cite sources correctly following APA guidelines
- Correctly apply APA style to manuscripts
Notes
Please note that this is a rigorous academic writing course, and participants will require advanced English comprehension and writing skills to ensure successful completion. Participants should expect to set aside a minimum of 15-20 hours each week to focus on assignments. Final course grades will be submitted and approved within 10 business days from the course end date.
For students that are re-taking this course you may be eligible for a discount. Please contact us for more information.