This course instructs students in reading critically and writing clearly, correctly and persuasively. Students study principles of grammar, rhetoric and logic in order to analyze and compose text effectively. This includes work on personal, expository and research essays. This course presents the basic principles and forms of written communication in the workplace. Instruction leads students through planning tasks, identifying audience and information gathering.
Major emphasis is on reports.
Memos, letters and resumes are also included. This course introduces a set of logical techniques which allow the student to evaluate the reasoning in both formal and informal arguments, to construct sound arguments of his or her own and to develop a thorough command of those structural components of language necessary to clear, effective and meaningful communication. This course provides a mathematically sound and comprehensive coverage of basic computational skills and their applications. Certain topics from algebra are also included. The content and level of rigor of the text form the basis of a course which would properly serve as preparation for a traditional algebra course.