| 6/9/2026 7:22:15 AM |
| Changed Course |
| CATALOG INFORMATION
|
| Discipline and Nbr:
CSKLS311.1 | Title:
BASIC ESSAY SKILLS |
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| Full Title:
Basic Essay Skills: Narrative and Exemplification |
| Last Reviewed:2/28/2011 |
| Units | Course Hours per Week | | Nbr of Weeks | Course Hours Total |
| Maximum | 1.50 | Lecture Scheduled | 1.50 | 17.5 max. | Lecture Scheduled | 26.25 |
| Minimum | 1.50 | Lab Scheduled | 0 | 6 min. | Lab Scheduled | 0 |
| | Contact DHR | 0 | | Contact DHR | 0 |
| | Contact Total | 1.50 | | Contact Total | 26.25 |
| |
| | Non-contact DHR | 0 | | Non-contact DHR Total | 0 |
| | Total Out of Class Hours: 52.50 | Total Student Learning Hours: 78.75 | |
Title 5 Category:
AA Degree Non-Applicable
Grading:
Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:
00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As:
Formerly:
Catalog Description:
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This course provides instruction, support, and practice in basic academic essay writing, focusing on two common academic essay forms, the narrative and the exemplification. Students will learn and apply techniques for generating and organizing ideas, developing a thesis, structuring paragraphs, and using appropriate style and correct mechanics. This course will also help prepare students for essay tests.
Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Recommended Preparation:
Completion of CSKLS312.1 or 312.2 or 312.3
Limits on Enrollment:
Schedule of Classes Information
Description:
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This course provides instruction, support, and practice in basic academic essay writing, focusing on two common academic essay forms, the narrative and the exemplification. Students will learn and apply techniques for generating and organizing ideas, developing a thesis, structuring paragraphs, and using appropriate style and correct mechanics. This course will also help prepare students for essay tests.
(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Completion of CSKLS312.1 or 312.2 or 312.3
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
| Associate Degree: | Effective: | | Inactive: | |
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| CSU GE: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
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| IGETC: | Transfer Area | | Effective: | Inactive: |
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| CSU Transfer: | | Effective: | | Inactive: | |
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| UC Transfer: | | Effective: | | Inactive: | |
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| C-ID: |
Certificate/Major Applicable:
Not Certificate/Major Applicable
COURSE CONTENT
Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
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Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Identify and analyze the basic structure of published narrative and exemplification essays.
2. Determine the kinds of topics and assignments that could be addressed by narrative or exemplification essays.
3. Generate ideas for a given assignment through a variety of prewriting activities.
4. Develop a thesis statement of appropriate breadth that addresses the topic.
5. Use visual organization techniques and/or a formal outline to guide the structure of a narrative or an exemplification essay.
6. Incorporate specific details, quotations, and examples to support the main ideas.
7. Use consistent pronoun point of view, verb tense, and quotations throughout an essay.
8. Apply knowledge of writing style when revising, editing, and proofreading.
9. Apply prewriting, organizing, and revision techniques for on-demand writing situations such as essay tests.
10. Use published and online sources as references about writing.
Topics and Scope
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This course will integrate instruction of writing skills with readings and essay writing.
I. Definition and Examples of Specific Kinds of Essays
A. Essay vs. objective report
B. Popular (published) vs. academic
C. Descriptive narrative
D. Exemplification
II. Parts of the Essay and Their Features
A. Thesis statement
B. Introduction
C. Body
D. Conclusion
III. The Narrative
A. Definition and examples of typical prompts
B. Analysis of sample essays, both popular and academic
C. Conflict and resolution
D. Developing a thesis (a point to the story)
E. Use of sensory details
F. Use of quotations
G. Effective structure
H. Prewriting and organizing techniques, such as:
1. Brainstorming
2. Outline
I. Writing the introduction, body, and concluding paragraphs
J. Revision techniques
K. Writing the final draft
IV. The Exemplification Essay
A. Definition and examples of typical prompts
B. Analysis of sample essays, both popular and academic
C. Developing a focused but encompassing thesis
D. Prewriting and organizing techniques, including:
1. Brainstorming and grouping
2. Mapping
3. Outline
E. Writing the introduction and conclusion
F. Structuring the body paragraphs
1. Topic sentences
2. Least to most important
3. Avoiding repetition
4. Integration of details, examples, and quotations
G. Revision techniques
H. Writing the final draft
I. Differences between the exemplification and narrative essays
V. Writing Style and Mechanics
A. Developing and writing clear, focused thesis statements
B. Consistent narrative point of view
C. Consistent verb tense
D. Consistent direct and indirect quotations
E. Published and online resources for writing support
VI.Techniques for Dealing with Essay Tests (Narrative and Exemplification)
A. Time management
B. Analyzing and using the prompt
C. Brainstorming and informal outlining
D. Using examples
E. Quick revision techniques
Assignments:
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1. Writing skills assessment and follow-up activities, as necessary
2. Reading, written responses, and discussion of the structure, style, and approach used in popular narrative and exemplification essays (at least 2 examples of each)
3. Prewriting exercises for both narrative and exemplification
4. Composing, revising, and writing successive drafts (500-750 words each), incorporating peer and instructor feedback
5. Peer response groups (in person or online) and feedback forms
6. Exercises on analyzing essay exam topics and developing thesis statements and writing strategies
7. Textbook and online exercises on consistent narrative point of view, consistent verb tense, and punctuation and consistency of direct and indirect quotations
8. (Optional) Self-evaluation and commentary about the writing process for each essay
9. Two tests or one final exam on aspects of style, mechanics, structure, and definitions of narrative and exemplification essay.
Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.
| Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing. | Writing
50 - 70% |
| Responses to sample essays; all essay drafts | |
| Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills. | Problem Solving
10 - 20% |
| Exercises on writing skills; prewriting strategies | |
| Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams. | Skill Demonstrations
0 - 0% |
| None | |
| Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams. | Exams
15 - 25% |
| Tests or final exam: multiple choice, short answer, completion, essay | |
| Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories. | Other Category
5 - 10% |
| Peer response groups; self-evaluation; participation in class discussions | |
Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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At a Glance, Essays, Lee Brandon, Houghton Mifflin, 2008
Evergreen, A Guide to Writing with Readings, Susan Fawcett, 7th Edition, Houghton Mifflin, 2010
Foundations First, Sentences and Paragraphs, Laurie Kirszner and Stephen Mandell, 2nd Edition, Bedford/St. Martin's Press, 2007
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