The purpose of this course is to acquaint the student with the basic conventions of grammar, usage, punctuation and mechanics. A better understanding of these conventions will help the student to communicate more effectively on both a professional and personal basis; and these improved communication skills are essential to success in any field, academic or professional.

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

1. Identify parts of speech: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions. 
2. Identify phrases and subordinate clauses. 
3. Make appropriate decisions concerning usage and mechanics.
4. Recognize and employ rules of punctuation.
5. Detect and correct grammatical errors.

Possible Assignments Include: (Subject to change each semester. The actual assignments are available in the Syllabus in the Blackboard course site on the first day of classes.)

Your final grade may be based on the following scale.

There are 3 exams in this course. The first is taken at home while the other two are proctored and are taken at a testing center.

Last Updated: September 11, 2012