Instructor: Mrs. Tabitha Dillard

I am Mrs. Tabitha Dillard, and I will be your online instructor for this course. In addition, I teach high school English at Ingomar Attendance Center in New Albany, MS, where I have been for 8 years. I have a total of 12 years teaching experience.

I have a Master of Education Degree in English from the University of Mississippi. I have been happily married for 17 years and have two children, Lindsey and Josh.

Contact me with any questions or concerns you might have at tcdilla1@olemiss.edu. I look forward to working with you.

Contact Information:

If you have questions concerning the content of the course, you may contact the instructor directly using the email link on the main Lessons page or in the "Communications & Tools" tab. NOTE: Replies to your emails will go to your go.olemiss.edu email account, so be sure to check it frequently.

Course Description:

This course is designed to prepare students for college-level writing. Students will write for a variety of purposes depending on major, audience, and purpose including historically and scientifically. We will be writing and analyzing narrative, persuasive, and argumentative papers as well as discussing grammar, usage, organization, and punctuation.

Textbook Information:

No textbook is required. All materials can be found in this Blackboard course or on associated links.

Course Objectives:

Objectives include (but are not limited to):

• Writing skills for thinking and revision.
• Essay writing skills.

Course Outline:

This course consists of 14 instructional modules (or lessons). NOTE: you must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page.

Lessons

Reading Assignments

Due for Grades

Pacing guide 
to complete the course in a traditional school year

Start Here

Syllabus and Orientation folder. NOTE: Once you complete the syllabus and orientation quiz, the rest of the lessons will become available to you.

Syllabus quiz

Week 1

Unit 1

The Pre-Test

Introduce Yourself discussion board and Course Pre-Test

Week 1

Unit 2

Grammar; nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs, and propositions, conjunctions, interjections, and transitions

Quizzes, assignments, grammatical errors presentation, and research paper topic

Week 2-4

Unit 3

Sentence: parts of speech, basic sentence parts and patterns

Quizzes, assignments, and research paper resources

Week 5 & 6

Research Paper Rough Draft

Research Paper rough draft is due

Rough draft due

Week 7

Unit 4

Paragraph: the paragraph, editing and revision

Quizzes, assignments, and essay

Week 8-10

Research Paper Final Draft

Research Paper final draft is due

Final draft due

Week 11

Unit 5

Essay

Paraphrasing assignment and Symbols essay

Week 12-14

Post-test, Exit Survey

The 10-minute Post-test is in the Final Exam folder and must be completed before the final exam will appear.

Post-test, Exit Survey

Week 15

Final Exam

Proctored timed essay exam. Complete all previous assignments before taking this exam. Any assignments not completed before the exam is taken will receive a grade of zero.

Proctored test

Week 15

Grading Scale:

93 - 100% = A
85 - 92% = B
75 - 84% = C
70 - 74% = D
Below 69% = F

The grading format is as follows:

Minor Grades: 50% (quizzes, unit assignments, etc.
Major Grades: 30% (the 4 steps of the research paper and other writing assignments)
Final Exam: 20%