Foundations for Composition

This one-year online course, suitable for high school students aged 13-18, concentrates on providing a comprehensive approach to various writing techniques designed to prepare students for a wide range of real-world writing tasks. It utilizes practical materials from the Institute for Excellence in Writing, guiding students step-by-step through lessons that offer structured support, enhancing their content organization, logical presentation, and coherence in written work. The curriculum encompasses grammar (parts of speech, phrases, clauses, sentence structures, figures of speech), outlining, oral presentations, and diverse writing formats like key word outlines, paraphrasing, narrative writing, summarizing, research papers, and inventive writing.

To participate effectively, students are expected to have a strong grasp of English grammar, be organized, and proficient in following and self-checking assignments against specific requirements provided in rubrics. The workload includes weekly writing assignments, phonographic equipment (USB headset microphone), and essential reference materials such as a dictionary, thesaurus, and grammar guide. The course is designed to earn one high school credit upon completion.