This course is about learning to write - analyzing your purpose and audience, researching a topic and citing your sources, stating a thesis and supporting it, and following a process that leads to polished work.

Short preparatory assignments will lead you through the development of four longer essays.  You will also write two more essays at a testing center to demonstrate what you have learned.   You will write in discussion forums where you and your classmates will give each other feedback. Everyone will complete assignments on the same weekly schedule (with some mid-week deadlines) to insure timely feedback.

The textbook and course assignments focus on the kinds of writing done in the everyday world.  The skills that you learn, however, will also apply to your college writing.

If you do well in this course, you will be able to:

• Read, summarize, critically analyze, and respond to college-level writing.
• Engage in all phases of the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and reflecting.
• Incorporate your personal reading and life experience into the writing process.
• Write well-developed explanatory and argumentative essays that demonstrate your awareness of purpose and audience.
• Use correct grammar and mechanics in your writing.
• Use and incorporate outside sources of information in your writing with proper documentation and without plagiarizing.

Your course grade will be determined according to the following points:
 

There are 2 proctored exams in this course. You are expected to take your proctored exams at one of the NVCC campus Testing Centers. Be sure to allow enough time to complete your exam before the Testing Center closes; Testing Centers have specific policies relating to the administration of ELI exams. You will need to take a photo ID, your NovaConnect Empl ID number, and the appropriate Exam Pass when you go to the Testing Center.  

For Testing Center locations, hours of operation and policies, click here.

For information on taking proctored exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

We are here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact us when they do:

You may also call us to schedule a meeting in person, either at ELI or at our campus offices. 

1. Use your web browser to connect to http://www.nvcc.edu/bbstart. Follow the directions to determine your email, Blackboard and VIVA account user names and passwords.
2. Access your email account and make sure you know how to use it; you will be required to use this account for all course-related email.
3. Log on to Blackboard and email at http://nvcc.my.vccs.edu.
4. Click on this course under "My Courses." Review the entire course to make sure you understand what will be required of you. Then start completing the assignments.

Please note that account generation takes approximately one week from the time of your paid registration. If you cannot log on after one week, contact the IT Help Desk. If you can log on to Blackboard, but your course isn't listed, please contact ELI or your instructor.