A college level course for marginal composition students draws its format from the Personalized System of Instruction (PSI) model, in which the teacher prepares written course and assignment information in advance of the course and is then free to provide tutorial assistance to students during class periods throughout the semester. The PSI model calls for self-paced instruction and student mastery of designated skills; grading is based on how students complete a predetermined number of assignments. The course bases its teaching of the composition process on the Roger Garrison/Donald Murray model. Students choose their own writing topics, designate an audience and a specific purpose, and choose an appropriate form. They concentrate on four areas designated as evaluation criteria--specificity, organization, expression, and mechanics--which are stressed in that order. Proofreading is integrated with writing, with a few major errors emphasized. A writing laboratory or a comparable component within the classroom enables students to master proofreading skills according to individual needs. (GW)