| Essay
Writing Course Outline
I. Rationale:
The purpose of this course is to teach students how to write essays for
academic or publication purposes.
II. Course Aims
and Objectives:
· By the end of this course students will be able to write their
own articles and essays both from given and self-generated topics.
· They will be able to research topics and have a clear understanding
of the principles of academic integrity, i.e., they will be able to correctly
and ethically incorporate the work of others into their own work.
· They will have a sense of style appropriate for the audience.
.
III. Format and Procedures:
Student Activities
· TEXT: Reading and understanding, controlled and freer exercises.
· WRITING: Brainstorming, preparing notes, drafting, paraphrasing,
making a bibliography, editing and proofreading; self, peer and teacher
correction and feedback.
Text: The Newbury House Guide
To Writing by M.E. Sokolik
· Chapter 1 through 6 will be systematically covered in order,
allowing approximately two weeks for each chapter. In addition, portions
of chapters 8, 9 and 10 will be discussed each week.
· It is strongly recommended that students have both a dictionary
(English-English) and thesaurus.
Supplementary Text: The Tao of Writing by Michael Ziesing.
IV. Course Requirements:
Class attendance and participation policy:
Attendance is important not for the purpose of having one’s named
checked, but to work, learn and think. Attendance will be taken and work
checked. The latter is more important with reference to your grade.
Students are responsible for
doing all work and assignments even in the event of an absence.
V. Grading Procedures:
· Class and Assignments – 30%
· Essays – 25 %
· Journal – 20 %
· Final Exam – 25%
VI. Academic Integrity and
Personal Conduct
Each student in this course is expected to abide by the Code of Academic
Integrity. Any work submitted by a student in this course will be the
student's own work.
Students are encouraged to
study together and to discuss information and concepts covered in class
with other students. They can give "consulting" help to or receive
"consulting" help from such students. However, copying the work
of anyone else without proper documentation is not permitted.
SPECIAL NOTES:
* There will be zero tolerance for plagiarism.
* Attendance will be taken on an irregular basis and be an important factor
in your mark.
* Participation in the form of asking questions and participating in group
work are major factors in your grade.
* Creativity and originality are strongly encouraged.
* Essentially 4 factors determine the mark that you receive for work:
1. Quantity: How much work do you do? This can include anything from the
number of pages in your article to the number of drafts that you write.
2. Quality: How good is the work? This can include anything from evidence
of research to attention to details. In other words, does your work show
that you care?
3. Objective factors: Have you studied and listened in class? Do you show
evidence of this in your work?
4. Subjective factors: Do you think for yourself? Are you original and
creative? Is your work interesting?
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