Online learning has seen tremendous growth in recent years, attracting students worldwide who prefer its convenience and flexibility.
Among the various types of online courses, self-paced offerings have become particularly popular due to their adaptability.
Sophia Learning, a major educational platform, presents an extensive selection of self-paced courses that enable students to earn credits toward their college degree.
While many of these courses are self-paced, some require touchstones, which are graded by human instructors and can impact the speed of course completion.
We have compiled a list of the quickest and easiest courses you can take here.
In this comprehensive, updated guide, we’ll delve into Sophia courses with touchstones, the number of touchstones per course, and provide valuable insights into the grading process, helping you make informed decisions when choosing the most suitable courses for your needs.
We will also look at the Sophia courses that do not have touchstones.
What are Touchstones on Sophia?
A touchstone is an assignment presented in essay format that must be submitted for grading by an instructor.
Unlike milestones and finals, which are graded automatically and provide immediate results, touchstones require instructor assessment, which can take several days.
Students are given a rubric to guide them in crafting their touchstone and guidelines on the required word count or page length.
When completing touchstones, it’s essential to remember that you’re not only learning the course material but also honing critical skills such as research, analysis, and written communication.
These abilities will prove invaluable in your college experience and future career.
Sophia Courses with Touchstones
| Sophia Course | Number of Touchstones |
| Ancient Greek Philosophers | 2 |
| Approaches to Studying Religions | 3 |
| Art History 1 | 1 |
| Critical Thinking | 1 |
| Introduction to Java Programming | 1 |
| Introduction to Networking | 1 |
| Introduction to Python Programming | 1 |
| Introduction to Web Development | 1 |
| French I | 5 |
| Spanish I | 5 |
| Spanish II | 5 |
| Anatomy and Physiology I Lab | 2 |
| Anatomy and Physiology II Lab | 2 |
| Health, Fitness, and Wellness | 1 |
| Human Biology Lab | 2 |
| Introduction to Chemistry Lab | 2 |
| Microbiology Lab | 2 |
| English Composition I | 5 |
| English Composition II | 7 |
| Foundations of English Composition | 2 |
| Workplace Communication | 2 |
| Career Readiness | 3 |
| Introduction to Career Readiness | 2 |
| IT Career Exploration | 2 |
| Workplace Writing I | 5 |
| Workplace Writing II | 6 |
| Criminology | 2 |
| Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| Introduction to Sociology | 2 |
| U.S. Government | 2 |
| U.S. History I | 1 |
| U.S. History II | 1 |
| Business Communication | 4 |
| Business Ethics | 2 |
| Business Law | 1 |
| Organizational Behavior | 3 |
| Personal Finance | 2 |
| Principles of Management | 1 |
| Principles of Marketing | 1 |
Sophia courses without touchstones
- Art History 2
- Introduction to Ethics
- Introduction to Relational Databases
- Introduction to Information Technology
- Anatomy and Physiology I
- Anatomy and Physiology II
- Environmental Science
- Human Biology
- Introduction to Chemistry
- Introduction to Nutrition
- Microbiology
- Visual Communications
- Conflict Resolution
- Developing Effective Teams
- The Essentials of Managing Conflict
- College Algebra
- Foundations of Statistics
- Introduction to College Mathematics
- Introduction to Statistics
- Precalculus
- Calculus I
- Lifespan Development
- Macroeconomics
- Microeconomics
- Financial Accounting
- Introduction to Business
- Managerial Accounting
- Principles of Finance
- Project Management
How long does Sophia take to grade Touchstone?
Sophia Learning generally takes around 2-3 working days to grade touchstones.
During busy periods, grading may take up to 14 days, whereas during quieter times, grading can be completed in as few as three working days.
Students are notified by email when their touchstones have been graded, and they can access their accounts to review the instructor’s feedback and the awarded grades.
It’s important to remain patient during the grading process and use the waiting period to stay engaged with your coursework, review feedback from previous touchstones, or even get a head start on upcoming assignments.
Plagiarism and Sophia Touchstones:
Sophia employs plagiarism detection software to identify instances of cheating in touchstones. Although the specific software used is not disclosed, it is crucial for students to write all touchstones from scratch and properly reference and cite sources to avoid plagiarism-related issues.
Taking the time to develop your ideas and synthesize information from various sources will help you avoid plagiarism, deepen your understanding of the course material, and foster critical thinking skills.
How are Sophia Touchstones graded?
Sophia instructors are generally fair graders and tend to award good grades. To optimize your grade, adhere to the provided instructions and take the feedback given by instructors into account when revising your work.
Remember that instructors are there to support your learning journey, so if you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to contact them for clarification or guidance.
How long does it take to complete sophia courses with touchstones?
It takes 2-4 weeks to complete a sophia class with touchstones.
While the touchstones may extend the course duration, they also provide a more comprehensive learning experience, allowing you to apply and reinforce the knowledge you’ve gained.
Should you take Sophia courses with touchstones?
You may wish to avoid Sophia courses with touchstones if you have a tight schedule. However, suppose time is not a significant constraint.
In that case, these courses can offer a richer learning experience and help you practice valuable skills needed in college and beyond, such as essay writing, research, and critical analysis.
Seeking Help with Sophia Touchstones
You can get help with Sophia touchstones by hiring an experienced writer to complete the touchstone for you.
This way, you are assured of getting a plagiarism-free paper that will earn you good grades. The turnaround time is usually three days, and they do revisions for free.
Here at essaysanytime.com, we have the right writers for you and complete touchstones at pocket-friendly prices.
We can also complete entire courses as experienced tutors are ready to assist.