Pathway to Writing Excellence
Course Description
The Pathway to Writing Excellence is a FREE adult-centered online course designed to equip students with the skills to captivate, educate, and persuade their readers — whether writing a business proposal, an academic essay, an email, a blog, or a social media post. Students will ponder together the importance of purpose, audience, and writerly self-awareness, and discuss what’s new in the ever-changing world of proper grammar and internet etiquette.
1 Credit Equivalency
Each Pathways experience is equivalent to one academic credit hour. Students can choose to pay $499 to have the one credit transcripted, and they can apply it to a degree in any of our Adult Degree Programs. George Fox University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
If you're interested in purchasing credit for the course, you'll need to complete the course requirements by one of the following deadlines: August 18, December 15 or April 26.
All Pathways courses are self-directed, allowing you to complete the course on your own time — and at your own pace.
It's totally free!
Meet the Prof
Jennie Harrop, PhD, DMin, MFA
“I look forward to exploring together the hiccups that sometimes freeze our ideas, the tricks I learned on the beat as a journalist, and even a few of the grammar rules that have changed over the years. At George Fox University, we want to know who you are – your past struggles, your future aspirations, your questions, those moments that sometimes trip you up. We are all on this journey together, and we write more now than ever before in history. Won’t you join us as we explore together how to write with excellence?”
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be equipped to:
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Identify the roles played by purpose and audience in directing a writer’s choices, and make appropriate choices of tone, voice, and level of formality
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Assess knowledge, expectations, and biases of various audiences
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Demonstrate an understanding of writerly self-awareness and its impact on effective communication
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Write focused, clear, and cohesive paragraphs, employing a variety of organizational strategies
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Develop and organize written communication using evidence that includes narrative examples, specific illustrations, and/or credible research
What to Expect
The course includes videos, readings, quizzes, downloadable resources, short written assignments, forum discussions, video feedback, and optional Zoom sessions with our faculty experts.
Not interested in credit? No sweat! Pathways are built for you to explore, meaning there's no expectation that you complete readings or submit assignments.
Online Textbooks or E-Resources
The Simple Math of Writing Well: Writing for the 21st Century (free open-access textbook)
General Assignments / Projects
Consider: Online tools to avoid
Watch: Professor’s Ponderings video
Watch: Online video/speaker
Read: The Simple Math plus online article(s)
Act: Experiential learning/application activity
Complete: Discussion Forum 1 video post
Write: Writing Assignment 1 (one paragraph)
Consider: Online tools to explore
Watch: Professor’s Ponderings video
Watch: Online video/speaker
Read: The Simple Math plus online article(s)
Act: Experiential learning/application activity
Complete: Discussion Forum 2 video post
Write: Writing Assignment 2 (one paragraph)
Consider: Credible Sources
Watch: Professor’s Ponderings video
Watch: Online video/speaker
Read: The Simple Math plus online article(s)
Act: Experiential learning/application activity
Complete: Discussion Forum 3 video post
Write: Writing Assignment 3 (one paragraph)
Consider: IQ → EQ → AQ
Watch: Professor’s Ponderings video
Watch: Online video/speaker
Read: The Simple Math plus online article(s)
Act: Experiential learning/application activity
Complete: Discussion Forum 4 video post
Write: Writing Assignment 4 (one paragraph)
Get Started
All Pathways courses are self-directed, allowing you to complete the course on your own time — and at your own pace.
It's totally free!