English: Comprehensive Skills in Reading and Writing

Program Outline

Instruction Sets
Your program consists of three instruction Sets designed to take you step-by-step through the necessary skills to speak and write English effectively.

Here's how it works
You receive the first course as soon as your enrollment has been accepted, and other courses will follow as you complete your exams.

Computer Specifications
As you know this is an online academic program. This means you will need access to high-speed internet to begin your program. In addition, you will need access to a Microsoft® Windows® based computer running Windows 10® or later or an Apple® Mac® computer running macOS® or later, and an email account to complete this program.

Here is an overview of what you'll learn and the order in which you'll access your lessons:

Program Goal and Outcomes

Program Goal: The English: Comprehensive Skills in Reading and Writing Certificate Program improves students' communication skills by developing grammar skills, the ability to write complete sentences and coherent paragraphs, library research skills, and vocabulary.

Program Outcomes:
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  • Use reading techniques such as context and scanning to determine the meanings of unfamiliar words and information
  • Identify features of writing such as topic sentences, supporting details, and other organizational features of paragraphs
  • Recognize elements of writing such as parts of speech and sentences, simile, metaphor, imagery, inference, bias, and the elements of fiction
  • Recognize nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, and other parts of speech
  • Identify correct usage of words and parts of a sentence such as plurals, prepositions, and punctuation
  • Differentiate between independent and dependent clauses, and identify correct use of sentence structure
  • Compose a unified and fully-developed paragraph free of common errors
  • Write a three-to-five paragraph factual composition with an introduction, a body, and a conclusion, and a formal business letter on the topic of a complaint
  • Comprehend the skills necessary to write an effective essay, such as correct word usage, avoiding run-on sentences, and professional tone
  • Write a coherent, well-organized personal essay of between 750 and 2,500 words that is free of spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors

Instruction Set 1

Reading Skills (1 credit)
• The Printed Word
• Main Ideas
• Interpreting What You Read

Instruction Set 2

Writing Communication (1 credit)
• Writing Skills, Part 1
• Writing Skills, Part 2
• Writing Skills, Part 3

Instruction Set 3

Practical English (1 credit)
• The Parts of Speech
• Word Usage
• Sentence Skills
• The Writing Process, Part 1
• The Writing Process, Part 2

Supplement: Winning with Words

 

Online Library and Librarian
Students in Penn Foster Career School have access to an online library for use during their studies. Students can use this library to do the required research in the courses they complete or can use it for general reference and links to valuable resources. The library contains helpful research assistance, articles, databases, books, and Web links. A librarian is available to answer questions on general research-related topics via email and to assist students in research activities during their studies with Penn Foster Career School International.

We reserve the right to change program content and materials when it becomes necessary.

Microsoft and Windows are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.

Apple, Mac, and macOS are trademarks of Apple, Inc. registered in the United States of America and/or other jurisdictions.