Basic Writing Skill Course Outline

Wolaita Sodo University
College of Social Science & Humanities
Department of English Language and Literature
Course Outline for Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Language and Literature
(2017 E.C)
Course Title: Basic Writing Skill
Course Code: En La 2011
Credit Hours: 3
Course rationale:
Basic writing skill focuses on improving students‟ writing skills which is very fundamental
for academic purpose. It provides students with the language skills, the vocabulary and the
grammar lessons for the development of written language. It also offers specific techniques to
correct different sentence errors and to add structure, coherence and clarity to students‟
exposition, narrative, descriptive and argumentative writing.
Course Objectives: By the end of the course the students should be able to:
 Construct meaningful sentences in English;

 Learn to compose a paragraph that has a clearly stated topic sentence and details ;
 Use appropriate coordination and subordination skills to relate ideas;
 Identify and correct common sentence problems
Course Description: Basic writing skill course includes;
 Sentence level writing: Basic English sentence structure; writing accurate sentences i.e.
avoiding fragments: run-on sentences, agreement faults, faulty parallelism, dangling
construction, etc.
 Paragraph level writing: topic sentence and supporting details, structure, essentials of a
paragraph, characteristics of an effective paragraph, basic types of paragraphs
(expository, narrative, descriptive and argumentative).
1
 Besides, it emphasizes on various ways of developing ideas in a paragraph, such as
definitions, exemplification, classification, cause and effect, as well as comparison and
contrast methods.
 Furthermore, it includes basics of writing discourse paragraph: descriptive, narrative,
expository, and argumentative.
Course Contents
1. THE SENTENCE
1.1. Types of Sentences
1.1.1. By their function
1.1.2. By their structure
1.2. Combining Sentences
1.2.1. Coordination
1.2.2. Subordination
1.2.3. Correlation
1.2.4. Using relative pronouns
1.3. Basic Sentence Faults
1.3.1. Sentence fragment
1.3.2. Comma splice
1.3.3. Run-on or fused sentences
1.3.4. Faulty agreement
1.3.5. Faulty reference of pronouns
1.3.6. shifts in point of view
1.3.7. Faulty parallelism
1.3.8. Dangling modifier
2. THE PARAGRAPH
2.1. Parts of a Paragraph
2.1.1. The topic sentences
2.1.2. Supporting sentence
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2.1.3. concluding/transitional sentence
2.2. Types of Paragraph
2.3. Characteristics of an Effective Paragraph
2.3.1. Unity
2.3.2. Coherence
2.3.3. Adequate development
2.4. Methods of Text Development
2.4.1. Illustration
2.4.2. Classification
2.4.3. Comparison and contrast
2.4.4. Cause and effect
2.4.5. Definition
2.4.6. Process
2.4.7. Problem to Solution
METHODOLOGY
- Lecture - Group/pair work
- Oral presentation
- Self-reflection
- Individual work (class, home take)
EVALUATION SCHEME
o Continuous assessment------------------------------------------------------------60%
o Test 1-------------------------------------------------------------------------------10%
o Quiz --------------------------------------------------------------------------------10%
o Quiz 2-------------------------------------------------------------------------------10%
o Test 2--------------------------------------------------------------------------------10%
o Assignment 1-----------------------------------------------------------------------10%
o Assignment 2-----------------------------------------------------------------------10%
o Final exam -------------------------------------------------------------------------40%
3
REFERENCES
Alexander, L.G. (1998), Essay and Letter Writing. Longman.
B. Brandon, L . ( 2001), Paragraphs and Essays : A work Text with Readings. New York
Hughton Mifflin Company
Davis,J and R,Liss (2005), Effective Academic Writing 3 The Essay. Oxford University
Press. Farrell,
Thomas J. (1995), Developing Writing Skills. P.A.R. Incorporated. U.S.A.
* Jenny and Seville, Time (1998), Modern Business Letter Writing. Tarring Paperbacks:
Vikas Publishing House Pvt. Ltd.,
Delhi Kolin, Philip C. (1990), Successful Writing At Work. Third Edition. D.C. Heath And
company
Langan,J (2005), College Writing Skills. Sixth Edition. Boston: Mcgraw-Hill Legget, G,
Mead, C.
David and Charvat, W. (919810), Essentials of Grammar and Composition. Prentice- Hall of
India, New Delhi.
Malkoc, A.M. (nd) .Letter Writing in English: Rationale and Models for Social and Business
Letters. English Language Programs Division… U.S. Information Agency. Washington, D.C.
Solomon, G/Ghiorghis (1991). Writing For Academic purposes. A.A.U.P.P.
Rorabacher, L (1976), A Concise Guide to Composition (3rd Ed). London Harper and Row
publishers S
avage, A.and M. Shafiei (2007),Effective Academic Writing 1.Oxford: Oxford University

Press.
Savage, A.and P. Mayer(2005), Effective Academic Writing 2. Oxford University Press.

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Wolaita Sodo University

College of Social Science & Humanities

Department of English Language and Literature

Course Title: Basic Writing Skill

Course Code: En La 2011

 Construct meaningful sentences in English;

Course Description: Basic writing skill course includes;

- Lecture - Group/pair work

- Individual work (class, home take)

Alexander, L.G. (1998), Essay and Letter Writing. Longman.

Thomas J. (1995), Developing Writing Skills. P.A.R. Incorporated. U.S.A.

Solomon, G/Ghiorghis (1991). Writing For Academic purposes. A.A.U.P.P.

avage, A.and M. Shafiei (2007),Effective Academic Writing 1.Oxford: Oxford University

Savage, A.and P. Mayer(2005), Effective Academic Writing 2. Oxford University Press.

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