GraSPP English Advanced Academic Writing / 2011-2012

GraSPP > Courses > 2011-2012 > Practical Training

Faculty

VALENTINE, Scott
FAYE, Singh Stanislas

Credit / Semester / Schedule / Language

2 Credits / Winter / Thursday Period: 3 / English

Objectives/Overview

Course Abstract
The purpose of this course is to elevate the academic writing skills of students by enhancing awareness of paragraph and sentence structure, rhetorical techniques and discourse strategies. The ultimate aim is to improve the manner in which academic term papers are developed and enhance the ability of the students to provide succinct responses to short and long answer questions under test conditions.

Entry Criteria
TOEFL 90 or higher.
Segments of each class will be spent dissecting academic prose. Accordingly, students need to have the grammatical foundation necessary to write and evaluate grammatically correct sentences. This is not an English grammar upgrading class but rather a writing technique and strategy class. It is for this reason that a high level of English proficiency is required in order to participate.

Class Contents
The module comprises 15 classroom sessions. Content will include: i) Designing drafts, ii) Effective paragraph development, iii) Unity, cohesion and exceptions, iv) Logical presentation of ideas, v) Elementary rules of usage, vi) Principles of composition, vii) Words and expressions commonly misused, viii) Strategies for effective rhetoric, ix) Referencing techniques, x) Understanding conceptual lenses, xi) Logical failings and strengthening arguments, xii) Writing under test conditions, xiii) Presenting your work.

Keywords

Academic Writing, English

Schedule

DAILY SCHEDULE

October 6th, 2011
Introduction/Orientation: Course Goals & Evaluations/ Grades Explained
Handout from Writing/Grammar/Vocabulary Module FSTI pp. 1-12
-Oral vs Written Styles
-Punctuation Rules
Handout from Writing with a Purpose pp. 429-48
Review pp. 245-54 in Writing Academic English
ASSIGMENTS
A. Assignment ->Approaches to Academic Reading and Writing pp. 1-26
1. Identifying Controlling Ideas
2. Understanding General Organizational Patterns
3. A Special Case: Introductions
B. Assignment: Review Writing Academic English pp 1-67
1. The Process of Academic Writing
2. What is a Paragraph? An overview
3. Unity and Outlining
4. Coherence
5. Kinds of Logical Order

October 13th, 2011
Approaches to Academic Reading and Writing pp. 1-26
1. Identifying Controlling Ideas
2. Understanding General Organizational Patterns
3. A Special Case: Introductions
Writing/Grammar/Vocabulary Module FSTI�@pp. 20 - 30
1. Plagiarism
2. Quoting and Paraphrasing
3. The Summary
Handout: Article and Sample Summary Analysis
Review->Writing Academic English, Fourth Edition
Chapter 3 Supporting Details: Facts, Quotations, and Statistics 39
Facts versus Opinions 39
Using Outside Sources 41
Plagiarism 41
Citing Sources 42
Quotations 42
Direct Quotations 42
Reporting Verbs and Phrases 43
Punctuating Direct Quotations 45
Indirect Quotations 47
Writing Practice 49
Statistics 51
Writing Practice 53
Review 54
A. Assignment ->Writing as Thinking: A guided Process Approach by Marcella Frank
Summary Writing pp. 1 - 7
B. Approaches to Academic Reading and Writing pp. 96 - 104

October 20th, 2011
Go over:
A. Assignment ->Writing as Thinking: A guided Process Approach by Marcella Frank.
Summary Writing pp. 1 - 7
B. Approaches to Academic Reading and Writing pp. 96 - 104
Handout->Writing/Grammar/Vocabulary Module FSTI pp. 31 - 51
- Academic Essay Checklist
- Hedging
- Explanation of Functions (verbs)
Review->Writing Academic English, Fourth Edition by Alice Oshima & Ann Hogue.
Chapter 8 Paraphrase and Summary 127
Paraphrasing 127
Plagiarism 128
Using Paraphrases as Support 135
Summarizing 136
Review 141
ASSIGNEMENTS
A. Summary of an article due on October 27th.
B. Approaches to Academic Reading and Writing pp. 128 - 45

October 27th 2011
Collect Summaries
Go over assignment:
Approaches to Academic Reading and Writing pp. 128 - 45
Handout-> Writing/Grammar/Vocabulary Module FSTI pp. 16 - 9
Key points of The Critical Review
Approaches to Academic Reading and Writing pp. 146 - 167
REVIEWING AN ARTICLE
The Introduction
The Summary
The Critique
The Conclusion
ASSIGNMENTS
A. Write a critical review of an article to be handed out due on November 10th.
B. Approaches to Academic Reading and Writing pp. 170 - 86
The Essay Examination
C. Review:
Writing Academic English, Fourth Edition
Chapter 4 From Paragraph to Essay 56
The Three parts of an Essay 56
The Introductory Paragraph 59
Funnel Introduction 60
Attention-Getting Introduction 61
Thesis Statement 63
Body Paragraph 64
Logical Division of Ideas 64
Thesis Statement for Logical Division of Ideas 65
Thesis Statement Pitfalls 67
Transition Signals between Paragraphs 69
The Concluding Paragraph 72
Essay Outlining 75
Chapter 5 Chronological Order: Process Essays 81
The Statements for a Process Essay 84
Transition Signal for Chronological Order 86

November 10th, 2011
Collect critical reviews
Return graded summaries with comments and answer questions
Go over 'Assignment B': Approaches to Academic Reading and Writing pp. 170 - 86
Discuss Chapters 4 & 5 in Writing Academic English, Fourth Edition in connection with 'Assignment B'.
Handout->The Writer' HARDBRACE HANDBOOK BRIEF pp. 22 - 48
Planning and Drafting Essays
Revising and Editing Essays
Writing Academic English, Fourth Edition pp. 273 - 79
The Writing Process, Step 4: Polishing
ASSIGNMENT
Write a 500 word essay on a topic to be determined due on November 17th.

November 17th, 2011
Collect 500 word essays
Return graded Critical Review Essays with comments and answer questions
Handout->Writing/Grammar/Vocabulary Module FSTI pp. 55 - 72
Writing opinion/editorials (OP-EDS)
Discuss two samples
Handout journalism glossary and discuss
Review in Writing Academic English, Fourth Edition
Chapter 9 Argumentative Essays 142
Organization of Argumentative Essays 143
The Introductory Paragraph 147
Thesis Statement 147
Review 150
Writing Practice 150
Applying Practice What You Have Learned 151
Topic 1, Reading 1 151
Questions 153
Topic 1, Reading 2 154
Questions 155
Topic 2, Reading 1 156
Questions 157
Topic 2, Reading 158
Questions 160
ASSIGNMENT
Write an Op-ed on a topic to be determined due on November 24th.

November 24th, 2011
Collect Op-eds.
Return graded 500 - word essays with comments and answer questions.
Handout->The Writer' s HARDBRACE HANDBOOK BRIEF pp. 114 - 39
Determining an argument's purpose
Establishing an arguable statement
Distinguishing between fact and opinion
Establishing a position or claim
Developing an effective argument
Using rhetorical appeals
Arranging an effective argument
Understanding logic
Recognizing rhetorical fallacies
Sample argument essay
ASSIGMENT
Write argument essay on topic to be determined due on December 1st.

December 1st, 2011
Collect argument essay
Return graded Op-ed essays with comments and answer questions
General Grammar Review
Handout-> The Writer' HARDBRACE HANDBOOK BRIEF pp 291 - 383
Handout->Writing/Grammar/Vocabulary Module FSTI pp. 132- 68
The Writer' s HARDBRACE HANDBOOK BRIEF pp. 193 - 224; 235 - 56
MLA-style documentation
APA-style documentation
CMS-style documentation
MLA-style documentation
ASSIGNMENT
Grammar review exercises (handout)

December 8th, 2011.
Go over grammar exercises
Handout: Approaches to Academic Reading and Writing pp. 187 - 208
The Research Paper
Choosing and Limiting a Topic
Proposing a Working Thesis
Taking Notes/Developing an Outline
Assembling the Rough Draft
Writing the Final Draft
Guidelines for Writing the Research Paper
ASSIGNEMENT
Find Research Paper Topic For FINAL EXAM and Draft Outline (due on December 22nd).

December 15th, 2011
Discuss individual topics and outlines in class.
Handout->Writing a Research Paper pp. 70 - 112
Format of Research Paper
Handout: Writing/Grammar/Vocabulary Module FSTI pp. 73 - 80
Policy Memorandum
Legal Writing
Non English International Law Terms
ASSIGNMENTS
A. Write a policy memorandum on a topic to be determined (due on December 22nd).
B. Continue FINAL EXAM Writing: RESEARCH PAPER

December 22nd, 2011
Collect Policy Memoranda
Handout->Vocabulary for Law pp. 6 - 62
Various exercises using legal terms in context
ASSIGMENTS
A. Legal Vocabulary Exercises
B. Continue Writing/Research FINAL EXAM: RESEARCH PAPER (First Drafts due on January 12th.)

January 12th.
Collect First Drafts FINAL EXAM: RESEARCH PAPER
Handout->Vocabulary for Academic English pp. 4 - 70
Various exercises using academic words in context.
ASSIGMENTS
A. Vocabulary for Academic English Exercises
B. Continue Research for FINAL EXAM Paper

January 19th
Return first drafts of FINAL EXAM: RESEARCH PAPER
Go over Vocabulary for Academic English Exercises

January 26th, 2012
COLLECT FINAL DRAFTS OF RESEARCH PAPERS AT THE END OF CLASS

FEBRUARY 9TH-> SUBMIT FINAL GRADES + EVALUATIONS

Teaching Methods

Practical Training

Grading

Course grades will be based on: summary (15%), critical review (15%), opinion editorial (20%), final exam (long essay 40%) and class participation (10%).

Required Text

MATERIALS

APA (The American Psychological Association) Style
Arnaudet, M. L. & Barnett, M. E. (1984). Approaches to Academic Reading
and Writing. Englewoods Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Regents.
Faye, S. (2008). Writing/Grammar/Vocabualry Module. Sagamiono: Foreign
Service Training Institute
Frank, M. (1990). Writing as Thinking: A Guided Process Approach.
Englewoods, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Hogue, A., & Oshima, A. (2006). Writing Academic English. New York:
Pearson/Longman
McCrimmon, J. M. (1967). Writing with a Purpose. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Company.
Menasche, L. (2001). Writing a Research Paper. Ann Arbor: The University
of Michigan Press.
Porter, D. (2007). Check Your Vocabulary for Academic English. London:
A & C Black.
Wyatt, R. (2006). Check Your Vocabulary for Law. London: A & C Black.

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style
Arnaudet, Martin L. & Barnett, Mary Ellen. Approaches to Academic
Reading and Writing. Englewoods Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Regents, 1984.
Faye, Singh. Writing/Grammar/Vocabualry Module. Sagamiono:
Foreign Service Training Institute, 2008.
Frank, Marcella. Writing as Thinking: A Guided Process Approach.
Englewoods, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1990.
Hogue, Ann & Oshima, Alice. Writing Academic English. New York:
Pearson/Longman, 2006.
McCrimmon, James M. Writing with a Purpose. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Company, 1967.
Menasche, Lionel. Writing a Research Paper. Ann Arbor: The University of
Michigan Press, 2001.
Porter, David. Check Your Vocabulary for Academic English. London: A & C
Black, 2007.
Wyatt, Rawdon. Check Your Vocabulary for Law. London:
A & C Black, 2006.

CMS (The Chicago Manual of Style) Style
Arnaudet, Martin L. & Barnett, Mary Ellen. Approaches to Academic
Reading and Writing. Englewoods Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall Regents, 1984.
Faye, Singh. Writing/Grammar/Vocabualry Module. Sagamiono:
Foreign Service Training Institute, 2008.
Frank, Marcella. Writing as Thinking: A Guided Process Approach.
Englewoods, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1990.
Hogue, Ann & Oshima, Alice. Writing Academic English. New York:
Pearson/Longman, 2006.
McCrimmon, James M. Writing with a Purpose. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Company, 1967.
Menasche, Lionel. Writing a Research Paper. Ann Arbor: The University of
Michigan Press, 2001.
Porter, David. Check Your Vocabulary for Academic English. London:
A & C Black, 2007.
Wyatt, Rawdon. Check Your Vocabulary for Law. London:
A & C Black, 2006.