Course Syllabus

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Syllabus Composition, Thinking, and Study Skills

Welcome

Welcome to Composition, Thinking, and Study Skills! We’re so glad you’re here.

Every lesson is designed to help you grow as a thinker, problem solver, and global learner. As a Mizzou Academy global student, you will complete lessons and assignments on your own schedule, interacting with course content, participating in interactives, and completing practice activities, as well as drafting and revising assignments, preparing for quizzes and assessments, and taking exams.

To stay on track, we recommend using a pacing guide. You can find more information about pacing in the Course Resources section, along with helpful tools, technology support, and tips for online learning success.

As you begin, remember that online learning requires both independence and communication. Be curious, stay organized, and don’t hesitate to reach out to your teacher if you need support.

We’re excited to learn with you, and we’re happy you’re part of our Mizzou Academy community! 

Pacing 

This course can be completed in as few as six weeks or take up to 6 months (180 calendar days). The six weeks are counted from the date of the first lesson submission and not the date of enrollment.

This course is asynchronous, meaning you can complete lessons and assignments at your own pace.

Most students spend approximately 10 hours per lesson interacting with course content, participating in interactive activities, and completing practice exercises, as well as drafting and revising assignments, preparing for quizzes and assessments, and taking exams. Your time may vary depending on your goals and learning style. 

We encourage you to work at a consistent pace, allowing time to absorb new ideas, build skills, and reflect on what you’ve learned. Use a pacing guide to plan ahead, stay organized, and finish strong. 

Course Description

Every day, you're surrounded by messages. You read articles, watch videos, scroll through social media, listen to music, talk with friends, and make decisions based on information. This course will help you both understand those messages and create meaningful ones of your own.

CTSS Syllabus Image.pngImage generated with AI assistance for Mizzou Academy.

In the first half of the course, you’ll learn to wisely evaluate the messages you receive–in everyday communication and academic settings. You'll discover your strengths, develop a growth mindset, set goals, manage your time, use Mizzou Academy resources, read actively, analyze stories and informational texts, and interpret poetry and drama. Along the way, you'll practice thinking critically, finding evidence, and making thoughtful connections.

In the second half of the course, you'll become the communicator. You'll discover your unique voice, learn how to adapt your communication for different audiences and purposes, support your ideas with examples and details, write strong paragraphs, and create messages in a variety of formats. Through practice, feedback, and revision, you'll grow into a more confident and effective communicator.

You'll also learn how to use digital tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), responsibly and ethically. You'll practice deciding when technology can support your learning and when your own independent thinking is most important.

By the end of this course, you'll be able to think critically, communicate clearly, support your ideas with evidence, write a strong paragraph, and choose the right tools—including digital tools—to share your message with confidence.

Course Essential Questions

List two essential questions students will explore in your course–one for each half of the course.


How do my choices shape my success?

What makes reading worth my time? 

How can I use my voice with purpose?

How can I communicate so that others understand?

Course Overview

Lessons

Objectives

Workshops

Quizzes & Assignments

1 - Goal Setting &
Time Management

  • 1.1 Demonstrate understanding of key ideas, vocabulary, and supporting details from the lesson's texts, videos, and learning resources.

  • 1.2 Explain how personal strengths can help overcome obstacles.

  • 1.3 Differentiate between fixed mindset and growth mindset statements.

  • 1.4 Divide long-term goals into stepping-stone goals.

  • 1.5 Analyze a goal to determine how it can be right-sized.

  • 1.6 Design a meaningful SMART Goal.

Lesson 1 Writing Workshop: Develop a Pacing Plan

  • Not graded—use your work in the Lesson 2 assignment.

Lesson 1 Quiz
(20 questions; .5 points each)

2 - Canvas Resources & Academic Integrity

  • 2.1 Demonstrate understanding of key ideas, vocabulary, and supporting details from the lesson's texts, examples, and learning resources.

  • 2.2 Select the most appropriate Mizzou Academy resource to complete a task honestly and effectively.

  • 2.3 Analyze assignment prompts, guidelines, and rubrics to determine assignment expectations.

  • 2.4 Evaluate feedback to determine meaningful revisions that improve future work.

  • 2.5 Determine when digital tools support learning and when independent thinking is more appropriate.

  • 2.6 Select effective study strategies for objective exams and performance tasks.

Lesson 2 Writing Workshop: Design a SMART Goal

  • Not graded—use your work in the Lesson 2 assignment.

 

Lesson 2 Quiz
(20 questions; .5 points each)

Lesson 2 Assignment:
My Success Plan (60 points)

3 - Read With Purpose: Active Reading Strategies

  • 3.1 Demonstrate understanding of key ideas, vocabulary, and supporting details from the lesson's texts, videos, and learning resources.

  • 3.2 Apply chunking and summarizing strategies to improve reading comprehension.

  • 3.3 Select appropriate SQ4R strategies to improve understanding and memory while reading. 

  • 3.4 Distinguish between main ideas and supporting details in nonfiction texts. 

  • 3.5 Select the strongest evidence that best supports an idea or interpretation. 

  • 3.6 Determine an author's purpose using evidence from the text.

 No Lesson 3 Workshop

Lesson 3 Quiz
(20 questions; .5 points each) 

No Assignment

4 - Discover Meaning in Stories: Literary Elements

  • 4.1 Demonstrate understanding of key ideas, vocabulary, and supporting details from the lesson's texts, videos, and learning resources.

  • 4.2 Apply active reading strategies to analyze fiction.

  • 4.3 Distinguish between plot, topic, main idea, and theme.

  • 4.4 Analyze key literary elements, including plot, character, setting, conflict, point of view, and theme.

  • 4.5 Select evidence that supports main ideas and themes. 

Lesson 4 Planning Workshop: Create a Character Discovery Portfolio

  • Graded—submit as part of your Lesson 4 assignment

Lesson 4 Quiz
(20 questions; .5 points each)

Lesson 4 Assignment: Character Discovery Portfolio (80 points)

  • Lesson 4 Planning Workshop 
  • Character Discovery Portfolio

5 - Make Connections: Figurative Language

  • 5.1 Demonstrate understanding of key ideas, vocabulary, and supporting details from the lesson's texts, videos, and learning resources.

  • 5.2 Recognize the difference between literal and figurative language.

  • 5.3 Interpret figurative language to discover deeper meaning.

  • 5.4 Analyze how poets use form, sound, and language to communicate meaning.

  • 5.5 Connect poems to your own life, other texts, and the world around you.

  • 5.6 Create a Poetry Map to organize your thinking about a poem.

No workshop; move forward to the Midterm Exam Planning Workshop

Lesson 5 Quiz
(20 questions; .5 points each)

No Assignment; prepare for your. midterm exam

Midterm Exam (200 points)
—50 multiple-choice questions (100 points)
—Midterm Project: Curated Exhibit (100 points)

COMING SOON!

 

AI Use and Acknowledgment

This course was developed through collaboration by instructors, instruction designers, content experts, and academic leaders at Mizzou Academy. Artificial intelligence tools were used to support brainstorming, outlining, and revision of this course and its accompanying resources. Final decisions and content reflect the authors’ expertise and judgment.

Grades

Your final grade will be based on the number of points you earn on submitted work and exams. The available points are distributed as follows:

Source Available Points
Lesson Assignments 300
Lesson Quizzes 100
Midterm Exam 200
Final Exam 200
Total 800

 

Textbook & Technology Requirements

To fully participate, make sure you have:

  • A computer that meets our Mizzou Academy technology requirements
  • A microphone and webcam for recording audio and video assignments
  • Any other required textbooks or materials for the course

Textbook

All reading materials are contained within the course and no additional textbook is required. 

Technology

The most up-to-date requirements can be found here: 

Additional requirements for the course are below: 

  • audio and video recording capabilities (e.g., smartphone, camera)

If you ever have trouble accessing course materials or recording tools, reach out to your teacher for support. We are here to help!

Accessibility

If you anticipate barriers related to the format or requirements of this course, please let Mizzou Academy know as soon as possible. If disability-related accommodations are necessary (for example, a scribe, reader, extended time on exams, captioning), please contact Mizzou Academy.

Canvas Technical Support

Canvas will be used as the primary platform for accessing course materials and assignments for this class.

Course Summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due