Advanced Composition
(This will be a two semester class in 2008-09)

The focus of this course will be refinement of writing skills in
preparation for college-level writing. The course assumes students
already have a solid understanding of basic paragraph and essay
structure, as well as basic grammar. This course will focus on helping
students take their writing skills to the next step and will focus on
preparing students for college-level writing in all courses. Students
will work on advanced writing skills, such as using grammar powerfully
to help advance one's purpose, creating unity and coherence within
paragraphs and the essay as a whole, and constructing forceful and
effective introduction and conclusion paragraphs. For the most part,
the course will exclude analysis of literature; instead, students will
read nonfiction essays and articles on history, science, current
events, and culture, and will respond to these essays in their own
writing. Students will also formulate their own arguments on important
cultural issues and will learn principles of rhetoric that will help
them to argue effectively in a world that often opposes the Christian
perspective. The course is aimed at 11th and 12th graders, preparing
for writing at the college level.

Textbooks:

The Norton Reader, Shorter 11th Edition (2004), by Linda H. Peterson
and John C. Brereton. Published by W.W. Norton & Co. ISBN: 0393978079.

Rhetorical Grammar, 3rd Edition (1998), by Martha Kolln. Published by
Longman. ISBN: 0205283055.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th Edition (2003), by
Joseph Gibaldi. Published by MLA. ISBN: 0873529863.

There are many used copies, in addition to new copies, of all three
books available through Amazon, Half.com, Alibris.com, and
AbeBooks.com.

Tutor: Megan Swartz

Writing Assignment for All Students Seeking Entrance to Mrs. Swartz’s Advanced Composition Course

If you have not previously taken Composition & Rhetoric with Mrs. Swartz, you must submit a writing sample to Mrs. Swartz BEFORE registration day. This writing sample should be an essay written for another course (either at Cornerstone or outside of Cornerstone). The essay should consist of at least four paragraphs. Submit the teacher's assignment along with your essay (what the purpose of the essay was, etc.). If you have taken Composition & Rhetoric with Mrs. Swartz, contact her by email for approval for this course. You need Mrs. Swartz's OK to take Advanced Composition PRIOR to registering. Writing samples may be submitted by email to or contact Mrs. Swartz to ask for her snail mail address.