In this class, students will learn to analyze a piece of work - a speech, an article, or other short piece of writing. They will learn to decipher the techniques that authors use to present information including the SOAPSTone technique to determine if the piece of writing has been successful in informing, entertaining, or persuading. Students will learn to analyze author appeals and style to formally critique a piece of academic writing. This critical analysis of a piece of writing is an important bridge to college writing and assumes an existing understanding of the 5 paragraph paper format and strong grammar skills. This course also includes a vocabulary building section utilizing Latin and Greek roots to improve comprehension of a growing personal vocabulary.
