• ACADEMIC WRITING  I  – COURSE OUTLINE

Objectives:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of basic essay structure, including introduction, body and conclusion;

2. Employ the various stages of the writing process, including pre-writing, writing and re-writing

3. Employ descriptive, narrative and expository modes;

4. Demonstrate ability to write for an academic audience

5. Demonstrate understanding of and apply the principles of effective paragraph structure;

6. Write concise sentences;

7. Employ quotation, paraphrase and summary;

8. Introduce, position and integrate source material into the body of an essay;

9. Recognize and correct basic grammatical errors, specifically errors of subject/verb agreement, verb tense, pronoun agreement, usage of prepositions and articles;

10. Improve academic and idiomatic vocabulary;

11. Employ socially appropriate language

12. Read, analyze and respond to assigned readings with an understanding of structure and mechanics;

13. Identify effective writing techniques in his or her own work and in peer writing.

14. Employ correct MLA or APA citation style, including parenthetical, in-text citation and works- cited pages.

15. Evaluate sources for relevance and reliability

16. Avoid plagiarism

Topics:

Course topics will include the following:

1. Paragraph structure (topic sentence, supporting examples, transition sentence)

2. Basic rhetorical modes (narration, description, exposition)

3. Writing process (pre-writing, writing, re-writing)

4. Effective use of quotation, paraphrase and summary

5. Stylistics (vocabulary, conciseness)

6. Correct paper formatting

7. Grammar & mechanics as needed

8. Reading and responding to assigned readings

Types of Assignments:

1. Short papers

2. Assigned readings

3. Independent reading

4. Class presentation

LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to demonstrate the following: Critical and Creative Thinking:

– recall and interpret information (identify subject/topic, main ideas, supporting ideas, and sequence)

– summarize information

– make inferences by: using prior knowledge identifying purpose and audience evaluating information for accuracy, relevance, and importance recognizing underlying assumptions (bias and tone) synthesizing information

– compare and contrast

– classify

– define

– draw conclusions

– respond to information (create solutions, identify impact of solutions, modify solutions)

– identify and discuss examples of fact and opinion

Reading, Research, Reference

– use context clues and word structure analysis (prefix, suffix, root) to determine meaning

– use a dictionary and a thesaurus to expand vocabulary and to learn homonyms, antonyms and synonyms

– use in-book reference tools (index, table of contents, glossary

– recognize point of view, illogical argument, fallacies, stereotypes, bias and propaganda

– critically evaluate, make inferences, and draw conclusions

Written Communication:

– use the steps of the writing process (prewrite, outline, draft, revise, edit)

– write paragraphs and essays in a variety of rhetorical modes including exposition and persuasion

– write a summary

– adjust content and style of writing to suit purpose, audience, and situation

– revise and edit work to improve content, organization, word choice, phrasing, grammar, sentence and paragraph structure, spelling, and punctuation

– recognize and edit for clichés, jargon, slang, and wordiness

– use complex and compound sentence structures

– write paragraphs and essays on demand

– gather, evaluate, and organize information into a research assignment using appropriate documentation (MLA or APA)

– understand and avoid plagiarism