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Gavin Walton
- August 13, 2024
Hey there, future essay aficionado! It is clear that you have registered for study.com English 204 : English Composition I. Great choice! This course is your key to hitting the bull’s eye in both academic and professional writing, and your essays are going to emerge as an amalgam of brilliance. Hoping to write convincing essays that could ‘wow’ your professors or simply improve the quality of your Facebook status updates (no prejudice taken here), then this class has been designed for you.
As an English 204 student, you will be introduced to genre and rhetoric, perfect your writing skills, and conquer the often messed up (but actually not) research-based essay. By the time you complete this course, not only do you stand a good chance of scoring highest on the final proctored exam, but you will also be equipped to sort out any college-level writing assignment you are given. So, here is the start, and let me just help to make this journey as easy as possible.
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What You'll Learn in Study.com English 204 📖
Okay, let’s move to the details of the study.com English 204: English Composition I. What does this actually mean, and what should you prepare for? Let’s break it down.
To begin with, this course encompasses various aspects whereby by the end of the course you are transformed into a writing expert. This will be followed by fundamental lessons in academic, business, and or formal writing. Think of this as laying down the framework. It is important to understand these fundamentals because you are going to use them all the time, here in this course and in all the courses you will take in the future that will involve writing. You will discover how you can enhance your cold and formal sentences and paragraphs to enhance the presentation of your work.
Then, you will find out more information concerning the basic forms, themes, tones, and the writing modes of genres. This part is rather engaging since it explains how the choice of the writing style may influence the perception of your message. From there, you will progress to the identification of rhetoric in text writing. This is where you get to be detectives and solve how authors do it with the persuasion and information dished out. Oh, I assure you these are not skills you learn in black and white- – they are real-life skills!
Another emphasis, which the course also entails, is that of research. Academic source selection is a crucial aspect of research work, and that is why this aspect will be well explained with the help of tutorials. Learning their origin and how to come across them is effectively going to spare you a lot of time and stress in the future. Moreover, this skill is highly used in the final examination, therefore, do not miss it when studying.
These topics progressively advance with the previous one hence at the end of the course, one is fully equipped with the knowledge of English composition. This is the area that is going to be finally tested in the proctored exam, thus, try to follow lessons and make sure you grasp the concept of each area before proceeding to the next one. Ready to ace this? Let’s do it!!
Step-by-Step Study Plan for English 204📝
To assist you in order to minimize distractions and optimize the productivity of study.com’s English 204: English Composition I, up next, is a week-by-week guide for the course. With the aid of this guide, you will be on the right track to ensuring that you adequately prepare for the final proctored exam.
Week 1: Introduction and Basics
- Focus: Academic, Professional & Formal Writing
- Tasks:
- Watch lessons on academic writing, professional writing, and formal writing.
- Take the quizzes at the end of each lesson to test your understanding.
- Start brainstorming ideas for your first assignment: Rhetorical Analysis.
- Resources:
Week 2: Understanding Genre and Voice
- Focus: Genre, Voice & Writing Style
- Tasks:
- Study the lessons on genre, writing styles, and voice in writing.
- Complete the quizzes and note down any areas where you need further review.
- Begin drafting your rhetorical analysis assignment using what you’ve learned.
- Resources:
Week 3: Rhetorical Analysis and Application
- Focus: Analyzing Rhetoric in Writing
- Tasks:
- Watch the lessons on rhetorical devices and rhetorical shifts.
- Complete quizzes and review any challenging concepts.
- Finalize your rhetorical analysis assignment and submit it.
- Resources:
Week 4: Research Skills Development
- Focus: Selecting & Evaluating Academic Sources
- Tasks:
- Study the lessons on selecting a research topic and evaluating academic sources.
- Begin preliminary research for your thesis development assignment.
- Take the chapter test to ensure you’ve grasped the material.
- Resources:
Week 5: Using Sources Effectively
- Focus: Using Sources in Writing
- Tasks:
- Watch lessons on quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing research.
- Start drafting your thesis development assignment.
- Practice citing sources in APA and MLA formats.
- Resources:
Week 6: Writing Process and Structure
- Focus: Stages of the Writing Process
- Tasks:
- Study the lessons on the writing process, from prewriting to final drafts.
- Revise and edit your thesis development assignment.
- Submit your thesis development assignment.
- Resources:
Week 7: Introduction and Body Paragraphs
- Focus: Writing Introduction and Body Paragraphs
- Tasks:
- Watch lessons on crafting introduction paragraphs and developing body paragraphs.
- Begin working on your research essay.
- Ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence and supporting details.
- Resources:
Week 8: Writing Conclusions and Revising
- Focus: Writing Effective Conclusions and Revising
- Tasks:
- Study lessons on writing conclusions and revising your work.
- Complete the first draft of your research essay.
- Review and revise your essay based on the lessons.
- Resources:
Week 9: Finalizing Your Essay and Preparing for the Exam
- Focus: Final Revisions and Exam Prep
- Tasks:
- Finalize and submit your research essay.
- Review all previous quizzes and chapter tests.
- Take the practice test and use study tools to prepare for the final exam.
- Resources:
By following this study plan, you’ll stay on track and cover all the essential material needed to ace the study.com English 204: English Composition I exam. Let’s do this!
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Best Free Resources for Studying📂
I know that you have all the great materials you need on study.com, but remember that at some point you might have to consider pursuing extra resources. Although you may think that you are able to do it on your own sometimes it is nice to have some assistance. Here are some very useful websites that are related to the concepts that might seem a bit difficult to understand and for effective study.com English 204: English Composition I.
YouTube Channels and Playlists
- CrashCourse: This channel offers a comprehensive series on English Literature and Composition. Check out their CrashCourse Literature playlist for some excellent videos.
- Khan Academy: Known for its detailed explanations, Khan Academy’s Grammar playlist is a great resource for brushing up on grammar rules.
Quizlet Flashcards
- Quizlet: Use Quizlet to find flashcards related to key terms and concepts from the course. Search for “English Composition” to find sets that other students have created.
- Here’s a direct link to a useful set: English Composition Flashcards.
Open Educational Resources
- Purdue OWL: The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) offers extensive resources on writing and citation styles. Check out their General Writing section for helpful tips.
- MIT OpenCourseWare: MIT offers free course materials for various subjects, including writing and composition. Explore their Writing and Humanistic Studies resources.
Educational Websites
- Grammarly Blog: Grammarly’s blog has numerous articles on improving writing skills. Check out their Writing section for tips and tricks.
- Hemingway Editor: This free online tool helps you improve your writing by highlighting complex sentences, passive voice, and more. Use the Hemingway App to make your essays clearer and more concise.
These can provide other angles or details to what could be hard to understand or explain. Also, all of them are free, which means you don’t have to worry about additional expenses when you embark on the journey. Happy studying!
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Core Topics for Success🔑
Understanding and mastering key concepts in study.com’s English 204: English Composition I is crucial for acing your final exam. Here, we’ll break down four key topics, using tables, real-world examples, and additional point forms to make them easier to grasp.
- Academic Writing vs. Professional Writing
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Feature
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Academic Writing
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Professional Writing
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Purpose
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To inform or persuade based on research and evidence
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To communicate effectively in a professional context
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Audience
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Academics, students, researchers
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Colleagues, clients, business partners
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Tone
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Formal, objective
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Formal, concise
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Example
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Research papers, essays
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Business reports, emails
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Additional Information:
- Academic Writing:
- Structure: Typically follows a standard format of introduction, body, and conclusion.
- Examples of Genres: Essays, literature reviews, research proposals.
- Skills Developed: Critical thinking, argumentation, citation of sources.
- Professional Writing:
- Structure: Often includes executive summaries, bullet points, and headings for easy navigation.
- Examples of Genres: Memos, business plans, and proposals.
- Skills Developed: Clarity, brevity, professional tone.
Real-World Example: Imagine writing a research paper on climate change for your university. This requires citing peer-reviewed articles and maintaining an objective tone. In contrast, a professional email to your boss about a new project should be concise and straight to the point.
- Thesis Statements: Strong vs. Weak
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Aspect
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Strong Thesis
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Weak Thesis
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Clarity
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Clear and specific
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Vague and broad
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Position
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Takes a definite stance
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Lacks a clear position
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Example
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"Implementing renewable energy sources can significantly reduce global warming."
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"Global warming is bad."
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Additional Information:
- Strong Thesis:
- Specificity: Focuses on a particular aspect of a topic.
- Debatable: Presents a point that others might dispute.
- Supportable: Can be backed up with evidence and research.
- Weak Thesis:
- General: Too broad and lacks focus.
- Non-debatable: States a fact or an opinion that is universally accepted.
- Unsupportable: Lacks depth for supporting arguments.
Real-World Example: A strong thesis like “Implementing renewable energy sources can significantly reduce global warming” gives your paper a clear direction and purpose, whereas a weak thesis like “Global warming is bad” doesn’t provide much guidance or insight.
3. MLA vs. APA Citation
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Feature
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MLA
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APA
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Field of Use
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Humanities, especially literature, and language studies
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Social sciences, education, psychology
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In-text Citation
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Author’s last name and page number
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Author’s last name and year of publication
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Example
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(Smith 23)
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(Smith, 2020)
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Additional Information:
- MLA:
- In-text Citations: Brief, usually just the author’s last name and page number.
- Works Cited: Detailed listing of all sources used, formatted in a specific way.
- Focus: Often used in fields that emphasize the writer’s original work and analysis.
- APA:
- In-text Citations: Includes the year of publication to emphasize the timeliness of research.
- Reference List: Detailed listing of all sources used, formatted in a specific way.
- Focus: Often used in fields that emphasize the date of research to show the relevance and currency of the data.
Real-World Example: For a literature review in an English class, you’d use MLA format: (Smith 23). For a psychology research paper, you’d switch to APA format: (Smith, 2020).
- Rhetorical Devices
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Device
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Definition
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Example
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|---|---|---|
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Metaphor
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Comparing two things without using “like” or “as”
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"Time is a thief."
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Hyperbole
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Exaggerated statements are not meant to be taken literally
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"I’m so hungry I could eat a horse."
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Alliteration
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Repetition of the same sound at the beginning of words
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"She sells seashells by the seashore."
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Irony
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Expressing something contrary to the truth, often humorously
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"A fire station burns down."
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Additional Information:
- Metaphor:
- Usage: Creates vivid imagery by directly comparing two different things.
- Impact: Helps readers understand new concepts by relating them to familiar ones.
- Hyperbole:
- Usage: Emphasizes a point by using extreme exaggeration.
- Impact: Can create humor or strong emotions.
- Alliteration:
- Usage: Enhances the musical quality of language.
- Impact: Makes phrases more memorable.
- Irony:
- Usage: Highlights contrasts between appearance and reality.
- Impact: Can add humor or create dramatic effects.
Real-World Example: When constructing the arguments in your essays, it is a good idea to incorporate metaphors. For example, a phrase like “Time is a thief” does not leave room for further discussion and immediately people understand that time steals our moments away.
Knowledge of these key topics as well as how they relate to writing will assist you in the matter of study.com English 204: English Composition I. These tables, point forms, and examples in this topic should be used to study and practice frequently to enhance this skill.
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Commonly Asked Questions❓
Q: What is the layout of the course?
A: The course comprises 17 sessions and each session is centered on some aspects of writing in English. You will be viewing video lessons; taking quizzes and doing your homework with the intention of strengthening what you have learned. The last test is a major closed book and normally comprises questions that may be selected from any part of the course content you have learned.
Q: Is it possible to repeat the quizzes in case of poor performance?
A: Yes! For each quiz, you are allowed to take a shot up to 3 times, although only the highest score from all the attempts will be accepted. Once you have completed at least three attempts for each of the quizzes, you are welcome to take the quizzes again to refresh your memory as many times as you want.
Q: What should I do regarding the assignments?
A: It is recommended to begin with getting acquainted with the peculiarities of each of the assignments given. Use the lessons as guides and make sure to follow the writing process: under brainstorming, outlining, drafting, revision, and editing. It should also be noted that it is advisable to revise one’s work in accordance with the data received from the Study. com instructors.
Q: What is the percentage weight of this final exam?
A: The last proctored exam is worth 20% of the course’s total grade. In any case, more relevant information is included, since it is a summary of the whole course.
Q: What happens if I don’t pass the final exam?
A: If a student fails the final exam, that particular exam can be repeated the next day after sitting out for three days. There should be an allowance for two do-overs meaning, you should take your time and improve on your mistakes before doing it again.
Q: Any tips for acing the proctored final exam?
A: Absolutely! Here are some tips:
- Review all lessons and quizzes: Overlearn all the content taught in the course so that you are fully conversant with all the concepts taught in the course
- Use study guides: Learn to use the study guides and practice tests which are freely offered on Study.com.
- Practice writing: As the exam might comprise essays, then make it a point to write essays that are neat and easy to understand.
- Stay calm: During the exam, find yourself in a quiet place and be comfortable, free from stress, and able to allocate time properly.
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Final Thoughts📄
And that’s the end of our guide for study.com’s English 204: English Composition I. Let me reiterate the key points. By now, you should be warmed up on what this course entails and how to go about it. In other words, as Julien Green stated, “It is through slow and steady work that the final masterpiece is achieved, and no masterpiece can be created without order.”
This particular course is hard coded to turn you into a master writer, able to handle all types of academic and professional writing with ease. Gaining from simple as far as writing to Complex Rhetorical Analysis as well as research, each lesson stands in hindsight of the next one by ensuring you have grasped the integral and basic understanding of English language composition.
Sticking to the week-by-week study plan is recommended so that you can take external sources of help if any with regard to the focus areas that we have put across. Remember, it is okay to come back to this guidance as often as you wish or need a boost.
Hence, now that we are endowed with this art of writing, let us put it to good use and score in the final exam. Have fun in your studying and best of luck!! You’ve got this!
