English Composition I (ENG 101)
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General Education Requirement (GER)
3 Credit Hours
Year 1 — Fall Semester
Delivery: Online
Session Length: 8 Weeks
Course Level: Undergraduate
Prerequisite: None, unless otherwise specified by the student's degree program
Course Description
ENG 101 — English Composition I is an introductory college writing course designed to develop the foundational communication, critical-thinking, reading, research, and writing skills necessary for academic and professional success.
Students will explore writing as a process that includes planning, drafting, developing, revising, editing, proofreading, and reflection. Emphasis is placed on writing with a clear purpose and awareness of audience, developing effective thesis statements and supporting ideas, organizing coherent paragraphs and essays, integrating credible sources, and applying appropriate grammar, mechanics, style, and documentation practices.
Through readings, discussions, writing activities, peer review, and major writing assignments, students will develop confidence as academic writers and learn strategies that can be transferred to writing situations across disciplines and professional settings.
The course is designed for an accelerated eight-week online format, with each module combining instructional materials, readings, writing activities, discussions, and assessments.
This approach reflects common first-year composition expectations in online higher education, where students practice rhetorical awareness, argument, research, source integration, revision, and writing for different audiences and purposes.
Suggested Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of ENG 101, students will be able to:
1. Apply the writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and proofread college-level writing.
2. Develop clear and focused thesis statements that establish the central purpose or position of an academic paper.
3. Organize ideas effectively through logical paragraphs, transitions, introductions, conclusions, and appropriate patterns of development.
4. Analyze audience, purpose, context, and genre when making decisions about academic writing.
5. Demonstrate critical reading and thinking skills by analyzing, evaluating, interpreting, and responding to written and visual information.
6. Locate and evaluate credible sources appropriate for academic research.
7. Integrate sources effectively through quotation, paraphrasing, summary, synthesis, and appropriate attribution.
8. Apply appropriate documentation and citation practices while avoiding plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty.
9. Use appropriate grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, word choice, and academic style in college-level writing.
10. Use revision and peer feedback strategies to strengthen the content, organization, clarity, and effectiveness of written work.
11. Compose informative and argumentative writing appropriate to different academic audiences and purposes.
12. Reflect on personal development as a college writer and identify strategies for continued improvement.
These outcomes are consistent with common first-year composition expectations, including rhetorical awareness, writing-process development, argument, source use, revision, and effective academic prose.
8-Week Course Topics (Eight Instructional Modules)
Module 1 — Introduction to College Writing & The Writing Process
Topics
- What is college-level writing?
- Academic writing versus informal writing
- The writing process
- Prewriting and brainstorming
- Topic selection
- Purpose and audience
- Developing a writing plan
- Establishing a writer's voice
- Academic integrity and responsible writing
Major Activities
- Student introduction/discussion
- Writing self-assessment
- Prewriting activity
- Initial writing sample
Module Outcome:
Students will identify the major stages of the writing process and develop an initial writing plan based on purpose and audience.
Module 2 — Audience, Purpose, Rhetorical Situation & Organization
Topics
- Understanding audience
- Identifying purpose
- Context and rhetorical situation
- Tone and voice
- Selecting an appropriate writing strategy
- Thesis statements
- Paragraph development
- Essay organization
- Introductions and conclusions
- Transitional language
Major Activities
- Audience analysis
- Thesis-development exercise
- Essay organization activity
- Discussion
Module Outcome:
Students will develop a focused thesis and organize ideas appropriately for a specific audience and purpose.
Module 3 — Critical Reading, Analysis & Developing Ideas
Topics
- Active and critical reading
- Identifying main ideas
- Summary versus analysis
- Evaluating arguments
- Evidence and supporting details
- Examples and explanations
- Cause and effect
- Comparison and contrast
- Analytical writing
Major Assignment
- Analytical Essay Draft
Module Outcome:
Students will analyze written material and develop a well-supported academic response using appropriate evidence.
Module 4 — Research, Information Literacy & Evaluating Sources
Topics
- Introduction to academic research
- Developing research questions
- Library and online research
- Primary and secondary sources
- Scholarly and credible sources
- Evaluating websites and digital information
- Bias, authority, accuracy, currency, and relevance
- Research notes
- Avoiding unreliable information
Major Activities
- Research question
- Source evaluation exercise
- Preliminary bibliography
Module Outcome:
Students will locate and evaluate credible sources appropriate for an academic writing assignment.
Module 5 — Using Sources: Quoting, Paraphrasing, Summarizing & Citing
Topics
- Integrating research into academic writing
- Direct quotations
- Paraphrasing
- Summarizing
- Source attribution
- In-text citations
- Reference/works-cited documentation
- Plagiarism
- Academic integrity
- Ethical use of information and technology
Major Assignment
- Annotated Source/Bibliography Activity
Module Outcome:
Students will appropriately integrate and document sources while maintaining academic integrity.
Module 6 — Argumentative Writing & Persuasive Communication
Topics
- Claims and positions
- Evidence and reasoning
- Argument versus opinion
- Audience and persuasion
- Rhetorical appeals
- Counterarguments
- Addressing opposing viewpoints
- Developing persuasive paragraphs
- Logical reasoning
- Evidence-based conclusions
Major Assignment
- Argumentative Essay Draft
Module Outcome:
Students will develop an evidence-based argument appropriate to a defined audience and purpose.
Module 7 — Revision, Editing, Peer Review & Academic Style
Topics
- Revision versus editing
- Peer review
- Responding to feedback
- Strengthening thesis and organization
- Improving paragraph development
- Sentence clarity
- Grammar and punctuation
- Word choice
- Eliminating redundancy
- Proofreading strategies
- Academic writing style
Major Activities
- Peer-review workshop
- Revision plan
- Draft revision
- Editing and proofreading exercise
Module Outcome:
Students will use feedback and revision strategies to improve the clarity, organization, accuracy, and effectiveness of their writing.
Module 8 — Final Portfolio, Reflection & Transfer of Writing Skills
Topics
- Final editing and proofreading
- Completing a polished academic essay
- Writing portfolio development
- Reflective writing
- Evaluating growth as a writer
- Applying writing skills across disciplines
- Professional and workplace writing
- Preparing for ENG 102 — English Composition II
- Lifelong writing and communication skills
Final Assignment
- Final Writing Portfolio
- Writer's Reflection
Module Outcome:
Students will demonstrate achievement of course learning outcomes through a final portfolio and reflection on their development as a college writer.
Recommended Major Assessments
A PATHS University online ENG 101 course could include:
Assessment
Suggested Weight
Weekly Discussions & Participation
15%
Writing Activities & Exercises
15%
Analytical Essay
15%
Research/Source Evaluation Assignment
10%
Annotated Bibliography
10%
Argumentative Essay
15%
Final Writing Portfolio
15%
Writer's Reflection
5%
Total
100%
The specific grading structure should be established in the official course syllabus by the assigned instructor and academic department.
General Education Competency
ENG 101 contributes to the PATHS University General Education Core by developing:
- Written Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Research Skills
- Academic Integrity
- Problem Solving
- Audience Awareness
- Professional Communication
Academic Advising
Students should consult with an academic advisor regarding course sequencing, degree requirements, transfer credit, prerequisites, and registration.
Dr. Ozochi Chidi Alexander
Academic Advisor
Email: oalexander@pathsu.education
Dr. Jacques Thigpen
Academic Advisor
Email: jthigpen@pathsu.education
Admissions Contact
For admission questions, application assistance, enrollment information, or assistance with beginning your PATHS University journey:
Email: admissions@pathsu.education
Phone: +1 (443) 219-4197