Course Description
Course Details
Take your grammar and writing skills to the next level! In this course, you'll review the foundational elements of grammar, including the parts of speech, and master the basics of punctuation and mechanics. Next, you'll explore sentence structure, nouns and pronouns, and you'll work with the different kinds of verb tenses. You'll also explore adjective and adverb use and be introduced to some best practices for using these parts of speech effectively in your writing. Then, you'll take a look at phrases and clauses, as well as parallelism, coordination, and subordination. You'll see how different phrases and clauses fit together in sentences so that your writing is clear, concise, and meaningful. Finally, you'll put your skills to work as you explore some different kinds of business writing, paragraph writing, and even formal essay writing. By the time you're done with the course, you'll not only have the advanced grammar skills you need, you'll also understand how to use those skills in practical ways.
How It Works
This course is fully online, you require internet access and an email account. The course duration is 6 weeks, followed by a 2-week period to complete the final exam (online, open book). Lessons are released on Wednesdays and Fridays of each week, for a total of 12. You are not required to be online at any specific time. In addition to the specific lesson content, there is a discussion board with each lesson and often there is an optional assignment to apply the learning. Following each lesson, there is a short multiple choice quiz. Your score on these quizzes does not count towards the final mark but completing these helps solidify your learning as well as prepare you for the final exam. The final exam is an open-book, multiple choice exam and you need to achieve a minimum of 65% on the final exam to pass the course. There is only one opportunity to pass the exam. A certificate of completion from WatSPEED is available within four weeks of successful completion of each course and can be accessed in your student portal. Many of the Ed2Go courses are eligible towards the various online certificates offered by WatSPEED.
Syllabus
Lesson 1 - Grammar Foundations. In this lesson, you'll review the foundations of grammar. You'll explore the parts of speech, practice your skills, and see how the different parts of speech work together in English grammar.
Lesson 2 - Effectively Using Punctuation and Mechanics. In this lesson, you'll review punctuation and mechanics. You'll explore the different kinds of punctuation as well capitalization and other mechanics issues. You'll see how to use punctuation and mechanics effectively and correctly in a sentence.
Lesson 3 - Sentence Structure. In this lesson, you'll explore what makes a good sentence and how sentences connect to each other to create cohesive thoughts in your writing. You'll also explore common sentence construction errors and how to avoid them.
Lesson 4 - Using Nouns and Pronouns. In this lesson, you'll practice using nouns and pronouns effectively in sentences. You'll learn about the various types of nouns, including common nouns, proper nouns, concrete and abstract nouns, collective nouns, compound nouns, and countable and uncountable nouns. Then we'll move on to the various kinds of pronouns, such as personal, demonstrative, interrogative, possessive, indefinite, and more. We'll wrap things up with a discussion of noun phrases and noun clauses.
Lesson 5 - Verb Forms and Verb Tense. In this lesson, you'll practice using verbs effectively in your sentences. You'll explore the different kinds of verb forms, and then we'll take a look at the different kinds of verb tenses, which help us communicate action in relation to time. Finally, you'll explore subject-verb agreement with some foundational rules that will help you avoid common errors.
Lesson 6 - Using Adjectives and Adverbs. In this lesson, you will practice identifying and effectively using adjectives and adverbs. Adjectives and adverbs are descriptive words that modify other words in a sentence. Using these parts of speech, the English language clearly and effectively communicates descriptions and provides limitations for the words they modify.
Lesson 7 - Using Clauses and Phrases. In this lesson, you will explore clauses and phrases. You'll learn about the different kinds of clauses and phrases, how they are used in sentences, and how to tell them apart. Then, you'll practice writing these different kinds of clauses and phrases and put all of your skills together.
Lesson 8 - Coordination, Subordination, and Parallelism. In this lesson, you'll explore the issues of coordination, subordination, and parallelism in your writing. You'll see how these principles help you construct more effective sentences and avoid common mistakes.
Lesson 9 - Communicating Clearly in the Workplace. In this lesson, you'll practice what you've learned so far. You'll learn how to communicate clearly and effectively in the workplace. You will take a look at email communications, memos, and business letters, and you will learn how to effective write these "short works." Then, we'll explore how to write effective instructions and summaries. Finally, you'll see how to manage conflict in writing in your workplace.
Lesson 10 - Writing Paragraphs. In this lesson, you'll explore paragraph writing. We'll take a look at the function and purpose of the paragraph, explore a formal paragraph model, and see how to write effective topic sentences. Then, you'll bring your skills together and see how the pieces of a paragraph fit together. You'll also have plenty of opportunities to practice your writing skills.
Lesson 11 - Organizing Paragraphs. In this lesson, you'll explore organizing and writing multiple paragraphs into one cohesive essay. You'll consider the different kinds of essays, writing introduction and conclusion paragraphs, thesis statements, and how to link different paragraphs together. By the end of this lesson, you will develop a complete, five-paragraph essay.
Lesson 12 - Effective Editing. In this lesson, you'll explore some tips and tactics for making your writing as good as it can be though editing. You'll see how to improve the overall impact of your writing through content editing, as well as how to find your mistakes and improve your sentences through line editing. Then we'll finish up by practicing your copyediting skills, so you can put that final polish on your writing.
