Online Class: Writing Basics 101 — Spelling, Grammar, Punctuation, Writing Structures

Most of us learned spelling and grammar in elementary school and brushed up on the rules occasionally in junior high or middle school. Once we entered high school, it was assumed we knew and remembered all of the essentials -- and slowly we discovered that although there were some rules we just had to look up, we simply stopped worrying about 'the minor details.' It's time to relearn those 'minor details' that can help you write and read more effectively.

COURSE CLOSED

We're sorry, this course is no longer open for enrollment.
 
  • 26
    Lessons
  • 68
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 0
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 5
    Hours
    average time
  • 0.5
    CEUs
 
 
 

Course Description

Most of us learned spelling and grammar in elementary school and brushed up on the rules occasionally in junior high or middle school.  Once we entered high school, it was assumed we knew and remembered all of the essentials -- and slowly we discovered that although there were some rules we just had to look up, we simply stopped worrying about "the minor details." It's time to relearn those "minor details" that can help you write and read more effectively.  But it's hard to fix something unless you know how it works. 
 
This self-paced, stress-free course is designed for students wanting to improve their basic writing skills as well as for business writers, creative writers and office staff wanting to improve poor work-related writing (and avoid embarrassing their bosses and themselves).
 
Our innovative course is designed as a refresher course for those who need to brush up on their skills and as a reference for anyone who wants to be able to look up the rules for confusing grammatical questions quickly and easily.  After you've reviewed the basic rules of grammar and spelling, you can move on to the lessons on writing style for tips on improving your sentence and paragraph structure, how to polish your writing and how to avoid common errors.
 
Although this course is completely online, it doesn't mean that you'll be left on your own.  The instructor will be grading assignments and tests and is available through email to answer any questions and provide guidance.  Why not join us, learn at your own pace and your own schedule and reap the benefits?
Courses Frequently Bought Together:
  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 
 

Course Lessons

Lesson 1. Introduction

1 Points
The introduction to this course will begin by first examining why proper grammar and spelling are important. Additional lesson topics: Weird A Yankovic; Complete English Punctuation Rules; Parts of Speech Lesson; Perfect English Grammar; Spelling Rules
  • Lesson 1 Video
  • Review 2 Practice Worksheets
  • Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
  • Complete: Introduction Assignment

Lesson 2. The Basic Rules of Spelling

10 Points
This lesson describes how to turn singular words to plural and the exceptions to the rule. Additional lesson topics: 10 Tips to improve your spelling
  • Lesson 2 Video
  • Review 5 Practice Worksheets
  • Lesson discussions: Personal Spelling Average
  • Assessment: Lesson 2 Exam

Lesson 3. Commonly Misspelled Words

35 Points
This is a list of some of the most common and frequently misspelled words. Additional lesson topics: Commonly confused words-
  • Lesson 3 Video
  • Review 14 Practice Worksheets
  • Lesson discussions: Spelling Resources
  • Assessment: Spelling 3-1 Exercise
  • Assessment: Spelling 3-2 Exercise

Lesson 4. Plural Forms for Names, Compound Words, and Numbers

127 Points
This lesson explains how to form plurals with some examples.
  • Lesson 4 Video
  • Review 4 Practice Worksheets
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Spelling Exercise B
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Spelling Exercise C
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Spelling Exercise D
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Spelling Exercise F
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Spelling Exercise G
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Spelling Exercise H
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Spelling Exercise A
  • Assessment: Lesson 4 Spelling Exercise E

Lesson 5. Understanding "ie" Versus"ei" and Other Spelling Dilemmas

145 Points
This lesson presents the basic explanation of when to use "ie" and "ei".
  • Lesson 5 Video
  • Review 5 Practice Worksheets
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Spelling Exercise C
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Spelling Exercise D
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Spelling Exercise E
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Spelling Exercise G
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Spelling Exercise H
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Spelling Exercise I
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Spelling Exercise J
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Spelling Exercise A
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Spelling Exercise B
  • Assessment: Lesson 5 Spelling Exercise F

Lesson 6. Prefix and Suffix Rules

82 Points
This lesson explains the basics of adding prefixes and suffixes including some exceptions to the rule.
  • Lesson 6 Video
  • Review 5 Practice Worksheets
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Spelling Exercise B
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Spelling Exercise C
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Spelling Exercise D
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Spelling Exercise E
  • Assessment: Lesson 6 Spelling Exercise A

Lesson 7. Common Prefixes and Suffixes

40 Points
This lesson gives a list of the most common add-ons to root words and their meanings. Additional lesson topics: Test your proofreading and Spelling skills
  • Lesson 7 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 7 Spelling Exercise A
  • Assessment: Lesson 7 Spelling Exercise B

Lesson 8. Homonyms

56 Points
This lesson lists some of the most commonly used words that sound alike but have totally different meanings. Additional lesson topics: List of 200 Homonyms
  • Lesson 8 Video
  • Review 6 Practice Worksheets
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Spelling Exercise B
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Spelling Exercise A
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Spelling Exercise C
  • Assessment: Lesson 8 Spelling Exercise D

Lesson 9. Subject and Predicate

20 Points
This lesson defines what a subject and predicate are and how they are used in sentences. Additional lesson topics: Subject/Predicate Exercises; Subject and Predicate; Subject/Verb Agreement; Subject and Predicate
  • Lesson 9 Video
  • Review 5 Practice Worksheets
  • Lesson discussions: Rate Your Grammar Skills
  • Assessment: Spelling Test 9 - Subject-Verb Agreement
  • Assessment: Lesson 9 Exam

Lesson 10. Verb Tenses

41 Points
This lesson defines the different types of verb tenses from simple to future perfect progressive. Additional lesson topics: English Grammar -- Present Simple -- Structure
  • Lesson 10 Video
  • Review 14 Practice Worksheets
  • Assessment: Lesson 10 Exam
  • Assessment: Lesson 10 Exercise: Simple Present Verb Tenses
  • Assessment: Lesson 10 Exercise: Irregular Verbs
  • Assessment: Lesson 10 Exercise: Find the Verb

Lesson 11. Nouns and Pronouns

49 Points
This lesson defines what a noun and pronoun are, the different types of pronouns and pronoun cases. Also, the correct usage of who and whom.
  • Lesson 11 Video
  • Review 5 Practice Worksheets
  • Assessment: Lesson 11 Exam
  • Assessment: Lesson 11 Exercise: Find the Subject Noun
  • Assessment: Lesson 11 Exercise: Using the Correct Pronoun
  • Assessment: Lesson 11 Exercise: Correct Pronoun Use
  • Assessment: Lesson 11 Exercise: Pronoun Substitution

Lesson 12. Adjectives and Adverbs

42 Points
This lesson explains the definitions of adjectives and adverbs and the different degrees for modifying them. Additional lesson topics: Additional Examples of Adjectives and Adverbs
  • Lesson 12 Video
  • Review 7 Practice Worksheets
  • Assessment: Lesson 12 Exam
  • Assessment: Lesson 12 Exercise: Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
  • Assessment: Lesson 12 Exercise: Identifying Adjectives and Adverbs

Lesson 13. The Phrase

34 Points
This lesson describes the use of prepositions in forming sentences. Additional lesson topics: Identifying Prepositional Phrases; Grammar and Mechanics; Self-Test on Prepositional Phrases
  • Lesson 13 Video
  • Review Practice Worksheet: optional-WordSearch-Activity-7110.pdf
  • Assessment: Lesson 13 Exam
  • Assessment: Lesson 13 Exercise: Identify the Preposition

Lesson 14. The Clause

11 Points
This lesson describes the difference between an independent clause and a subordinate clause and the proper usage of that and which. Additional lesson topics: Difference Between That and Which; Independent VS Dependent Clauses
  • Lesson 14 Video
  • Review 2 Practice Worksheets
  • Assessment: Lesson 14 Exam

Lesson 15. Periods and Other End Stops

20 Points
This lesson describes when to use periods, exclamation marks, and question marks. Additional lesson topics: Periods and Other End Stops; The Proper Use Of The Period and Other End Marks
  • Lesson 15 Video
  • Review Practice Worksheet: optional-Grammar_Punctuation_Wk_2.pdf
  • Lesson discussions: Rate Your Punctuation Skills
  • Assessment: Lesson 15 Exam
  • Assessment: Lesson 15 Exercise: Sentence Punctuation

Lesson 16. Commas

19 Points
This lesson explains when and where commas are used in sentences. Additional lesson topics: Comma Use Exercise
  • Lesson 16 Video
  • Review 2 Practice Worksheets
  • Assessment: Lesson 16 Exam

Lesson 17. Apostrophes

22 Points
This lesson covers the basic rules when adding an apostrophe and some exceptions. Additional lesson topics: Apostrophe Use Exercise; Apostrophe Rules
  • Lesson 17 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 17 Exam
  • Assessment: Lesson 17 Exercise: Using Apostrophes

Lesson 18. Colons and Semicolons

8 Points
This lesson gives the basic rules for using colons and semicolons in a sentence. Additional lesson topics: Commas vs. semicolons exercises; Semicolon and Colon Rules
  • Lesson 18 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 18 Exam

Lesson 19. Hyphens

19 Points
This lesson describes when and how to use hyphens and when they are essential.
  • Lesson 19 Video
  • Assessment: Lesson 19 Exam
  • Assessment: Lesson 19 Exercise: Hyphen Usage

Lesson 20. Quotation Marks

8 Points
This lesson explains how to use quotation marks properly in text. Additional lesson topics: Quotation mark exercises; Quotation Marks
  • Lesson 20 Video
  • Review Practice Worksheet: optional-GrammarPunctuation_Wk_1.pdf
  • Assessment: Lesson 20 Exam

Lesson 21. Refining Your Sentences

30 Points
This lesson explains how to use phrases and compound sentences to make your writing interesting. Additional lesson topics: Compound Subjects, Verbs, and Sentences; The Several Most Common Grammar and Mechanical Errors
  • Lesson 21 Video
  • Review 6 Practice Worksheets
  • Lesson discussions: Writing Expertise
  • Complete: Lesson 21 Assignment
  • Complete: Lesson 21.2 Assignment

Lesson 22. Paragraph Structure

40 Points
This lesson explains proper paragraph structure with topic and concluding sentences. Additional lesson topics: Several Essay Writing Tips; Paragraph Writing: How to Write a Good Paragraph
  • Lesson 22 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 22.1 Assignment - Paragraph Writing
  • Complete: Lesson 22.2 Assignment - Paragraph Writing

Lesson 23. Types of Paragraphs

40 Points
This lesson explains the difference between narrative and descriptive and expository paragraphs. Additional lesson topics: Seven Types of Paragraphs
  • Lesson 23 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 23 Assignment - Narrative Paragraph
  • Complete: Lesson 23.2 Assignment - Descriptive Paragraph

Lesson 24. Writing Dialogue

20 Points
This lesson explains the importance of the structure and flow of dialogue.
  • Lesson 24 Video
  • Complete: Lesson 24 Assignment - Dialogue Writing

Lesson 25. Proofreading and Revising Your Writing

25 Points
We'll review proofreading and techniques for revising to better improve your writing.
  • Lesson 25 Video
  • Review 3 Practice Worksheets
  • Lesson discussions: Editing
  • Complete: Final Assignment - Three Paragraph Essay

Lesson 26. Additional Grammar and Writing Resources

74 Points
Additional grammar and writing resources
  • Lesson discussions: What is your opinion of this course?; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
  • Assessment: The Final Exam
1018
Total Course Points