What you learn in this course will benefit you by *enhancing and refining your writing and editing skills *reading and reviewing the work of your peers and giving thoughtful feedback *research and analytical skills *developing a repertoire of writing, editing and research skills *and much more!

You will learn by * Selecting a controversial topic in your field of study * Locating suitable source material and analyzing a variety of essay models. * Preparing a bibliography * Summarizing and evaluating source material as you write the papers * Writing worksheets (outlines) * Reading and responding to the papers of your peers * Drafting papers * Revising papers based on teacher and student feedback, and * Preparing the final papers.

Entry Level Prerequisites and Competencies: English 111, English 112, or their ODU equivalents English 110C, or approval by the division.

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

• refine skills developed in English 111 and 112 or equivalent
• abstract and summarize the content of readings
• analyze, and synthesize the content of readings and their own texts based on rhetorical criteria (e.g., purpose, audience appeal, voice, style, arrangement)
• apply the principles of academic analysis and argumentation
• become familiar with primary and secondary sources and their documentation
• move from analysis to evaluation, judging texts for effectiveness and credibility
• learn through careful analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information to formulate adequate theses, moving beyond the scope of reporting to composing papers that express their reasoned judgments on topics

For information on how to order your textbooks, go to http://eli.nvcc.edu/books/.

The required textbooks for this course is:

• Academic Thinking and Writing, Third edition, by M.Rose and M. Kiniry. VHPS, 1998. ISBN 0-312-11561-X

• Writer's Reference-w/APA Update, 5th edition, 03, VHPS, ISBN 0312397674

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

There are two (2) online exams in this course. You are expected to take your examinations 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 exams outside of the metropolitan area, click here.

I am here to help you succeed in this course. Occasionally questions or problems may arise. Here is how to contact me when they do:

E-mail: eobrien@nvcc.edu
Telephone : (703) 878-5660
You may also call me to schedule a meeting in person, either at ELI or my campus office in Woodbridge. 

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 at http://learn.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.