Module 7 - Activity 3

Activity 1 : : Activity 2 : : Activity 3 : : Activity 4 : : Activity 5 : : Activity 6

Activity 3: The Writing Process

Working on Writing Mechanics

NOTE: Don't forget to scroll down to the Writing Process exercises also on this page.

Before you begin learning the writing process, it’s good to practice your basic grammar skills. The best way to enhance your knowledge of grammar is practice! The e-text listings in this section are primarily for reference—your main activities here are interactive learning assignments in MyCompLab.

• e-texts
• Writing: A Guide to College and Beyond, chapters 31-33 (chapter 33 is for ESL students and is optional)
• Chapter to review: 30
• SF Writer, chapters 30-45 (use for reference)
• MyCompLab
• Grammar Section, “Grammar Diagnostics” (see further instructions below)
• Grammar Section, “Grammar Video Tutorials” (use as needed)

To Access the MyCompLab resource, follow these steps:

1. Log into Pearson’s Reading, Writing and Composition website using the information you received when you enrolled in the resource (the login page displays the title “Course Compass”).



 

2. The first page you encounter after logging in contains important announcements in the center panel. Please read these announcements.



 

3. The purple menu on the right-hand side of the screen gives you access to the different areas of the Pearson Reading, Writing and Composition resource. Click on the link for MyCompLab.
4. An initial link will appear at the top of the page, followed by an icon, and then several more links. IMPORTANT: First click the last link under the icon, “Click here to launch browser tune-up.” Follow the instruction to make sure you browser is ready for the resource. DO NOT click any of the other links under the icon, as you may receive an error message.
5. The next page you see will have 3 main divisions in the center. For the first listing in this module, you will be using the first section, “Grammar.” Find the link for “Grammar Diagnostics” in this middle section and click it.



 

6. Take “Comprehensive Grammar Diagnostic 1.” You will get automatic results from the diagnostic test. Once you have your results, go to the link called “Exercise Zone” to work on specific grammar topics. NOTE: If you are and ESL (English as a Second Language) student, you may want to visit the link called “ESL Exercise Zone.”
7. You may take as many of the “Targeted Grammar Diagnostics” as you like. When you have completed you study of grammar, go back and take “Comprehensive Grammar Diagnostic 2” to see your progress.

 

The Writing Process

Now that you have reviewed some writing fundamentals, it’s time to learn about the writing process itself. In this week’s learning activities you will read about the writing process and then write at least two sample essays to reinforce the process you have learned. Save the practice essays you write in a word processor document for your own reference.  Please note that the LCO1 is an objective assessment consisting of multiple choice, multiple selection, and matching items and you will not be writing essays on the assessment.

 

• e-Text Readings
• The Reader's Handbook, Chapter 6
• SF Writer
• Working as a Writer –Chapters 1- 7
• Shaping Language—Chapters 9, 11,12
• Writing: A Guide to College and Beyond, Chapters 3, 4, 6, 8, 9
• MyREadingLab, “Patterns of Organization” – New York Harbor
• MyCompLab
• Writing Section, Writing Video Tutorials – Office Hours Series
• Pre-Writing
• Drafting
• Revising
• Writing Section, Writing Activities – “Writing to Discuss” (write at least 1 essay)
• Writing Section, Writing Activities – “Writing to Describe” (write at least 1 essay)
• Writing Section, Writing Process - "Finishing – Proofing for Grammar Errors" (use this exercise for the essays you have just written in the Writing Activities section)
• MyWritingLab
• Writing Diagnostic Exercises (these are required before you start the lab)
• Getting Started—“Exploring the Writing Process”

 

PLEASE NOTE that the practice essays in MyWritingLab and MyCompLab are NOT instructor graded, although the Pearson site may say that they are automatically graded. You may post your essays for peer review in the “Peer Review” thread in the LCO1 community.

To Access the My CompLab resource, follow these steps:

 

1. Log into Pearson’s Reading, Writing and Composition website using the information you received when you enrolled in the resource (the login page displays the title “Course Compass”).
2. The first page you encounter after logging in contains important announcements in the center panel. Please read these announcements.
3. The menu on the left-hand side of the screen gives you access to the different areas of the Pearson Reading, Writing and Composition resource. Click on the link for My CompLab.
4. An initial link will appear at the top of the page, followed by an icon, and then several more links. IMPORTANT: First click the last link under the icon, “Click here to launch browser tune-up.” Follow the instruction to make sure you browser is ready for the resource. DO NOT click any of the other links under the icon, as you may receive an error message.
5. The next page you see will have 3 main divisions in the center. For the first listing in this module, you will be using the middle section, “Writing.” Find the link for “Writing Activities” in this middle section and click it.
6. On the new page, go to the menu on the right-hand side of the screen. To access the first two articles listed in this module, find the section called “Writing Activities” and click that link. On the page that appears, click the image of an open book called “text-based activities.”
7. The page that appears has a blue box in the center. Scroll down toward the bottom and find the 3 activities for “Discuss.” Complete the first ‘Writing to Discuss’ exercise.
8. Complete the a ‘Writing to Describe’ activity.
9. To access the next item in the Module list, “Finishing—Proofing for Grammar Errors,” go back to the menu on the right-hand side of the screen and click the link for “Writing Process Exercises” (Note, this is the link above the one you have been using, “Writing Activities”).
10. In the new page, find the section called “Finishing” and click the link for “Proofreading for Grammar Errors.” Complete the exercise using the essays you wrote in steps 7 and 8.
11. To access the next item in the module list, return to the right-hand side menu and click the link “Writing Video Tutorials.” In the new page you will find the links under “Office Hour Series.” Watch the videos on “Pre-Writing,” “Drafting,” and “Revising.”

 

To access My WritingLab, follow these steps:

 

1. Log into Pearson’s Reading, Writing and Composition website using the information you received when you enrolled in the resource (the login page displays the title “Course Compass”).
2. The first page you encounter after logging in contains important announcements in the center panel. Please read these announcements. The login code for MyWritingLab is located under the red letters READ FIRST.
3. The menu on the right-hand side of the screen gives you access to the different areas of the Pearson Reading, Writing and Composition resource. Click on the link for MyWritingLab.
4. When you log into MyWritingLab you may be prompted to complete diagnostic exercises—please do so before continuing on to “Exploring the Writing Process”.
5. On the next page, click on the text link for MyWritingLab. The page that loads will seem familiar, as it has the same format as MyReadingLab. From here you can track your activity in the resource and view your completed activities.
6. Click the top tab called “Study Plan” and then click the link for “Part 1: Getting Started.” Under that link, click and the link for “Exploring the Writing Process” and complete the activity.