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Faculty Resources - English:

Course Outline - WR 121

COURSE TITLE:

English Composition:  Introduction to Academic Writing

COURSE HOURS PER WEEK:

4

COURSE NUMBER:

WR 121

Lecture: 

4

COURSE CREDITS:

4

Lec/Lab:

COURSE PREREQUISITES:

Prerequisite: Appropriate scores on Lane's Writing Placement Test or a passing grade (C- or better) in WR 115.

Lab:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This fundamental course for all writing students introduces students to the conventions of academic writing.  It emphasizes defining and developing a significant topic and using principles of clear thinking to support an assertive or argumentative thesis.  Students will gain an understanding of their subject matter, audience, purpose, and point-of-view, and demonstrate that understanding through the organization and development of their essays. Students will learn how to analyze and evaluate other writers' work to sharpen their critical abilities as readers and writers. 

The course also introduces students to skills in source analysis, documentation, and beginning research methods.

GENERAL COURSE OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of this course, the successful student will be able to:

These outcomes will be verified by the following assessments:

A.  Engage in and value a respectful and   free exchange of ideas.
  • Three to five essays for a total of 12-14 pages per term in both draft and final form (3000-3500 words) of final draft copy, including one essay of at least 1000 words that integrates research.

AND

  • One or more of the following:  peer editing; instructor conferences; journals; in-class and/or electronic writing; class discussions of papers; class discussions of assigned essays and stories for critical reading; small group work; quizzes; presentations; conferences.

Some sections may employ an online- or service-learning component.

B.  Demonstrate critical thinking and reading skills of situations or challenging college-level texts:
  • Read actively and rhetorically: engage with complex ideas in order to evaluate and interpret texts; 
  • Evaluate, use, and synthesize sources in support of the thesis, which may include primary and secondary, and found in media-captured, electronic, live and printed forms;
  • Develop and organize essays using logic, examples, and illustration, and research to support his/her ideas;
  • Engage in the research process as part of an inquiry process.

 

 Same

C.  Make appropriate and effective rhetorical choices during all stages of the writing process:
  • Adopt an appropriate point of view, which takes into account voice, tone, and ethos;
  • Choose strategies of development appropriate for the purpose and audience--including narration, cause/effect, description, comparison/contrast, classification, process, and definition (recognizing that effective writing usually involves combinations of these “modes”);
  • Identify audience and a clear purpose;
  • Shape a thesis and/or controlling idea (implicit or explicit) that expresses a focused approach to ideas, insights, and/or applications.

 

Same

D.  Develop and Organize Essays:
  • Develop essays through a flexible process of pre-drafting, planning, drafting, revising, and editing;
  • Write at least one essay that demonstrates an understanding of the basic principles of argumentation;
  • Develop support using methods that may include:  adequate explanatory details, sensory and narrative detail, dialogue, examples, illustrations, reasons, analogies, and forms of evidence such as summary and synthesis of outside sources;
  • Organize ideas coherently and logically in clear sentences, paragraphs, and essays, employing effective connections and transitions;
  • Utilize an effective organizational strategy that reflects the scope and nature of the thesis, including:  an effective introduction, logically arranged body paragraphs that develop the thesis, body, and conclusion;
  • Emphasize and subordinate ideas appropriately.

 

Same

E.  Begin to use the library and Internet resources to conduct research:
  • Use a database and the Internet to locate information and evidence;
  • Demonstrate an ability to summarize, paraphrase, and quote sources in a manner that distinguishes the writer's voice from that of his/her sources.

 

Same

F.  Effectively and correctly use accepted conventions and formatting:
  • Type and format final drafts with appropriate headings, titles, spacing, margins, demonstrating an understanding of either MLA or APA citation style;
  • Use the handbook or other resources for style, grammar, and citation;
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of his/her work with peer responders, tutors, and/or instructors, demonstrating a focused process of improvement from early to final drafts;
  • Employ an appropriate variety of correct and effective sentence structures (e.g., fragments may appear only when stylistically appropriate);
  • Demonstrate the ability to use Edited Standard Written English (ESWE) to address an academic audience.

 

Same

Course outline by major topic:  See course calendars for examples.

 
   

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