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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "IT 401"
COURSE NAME: "Advanced Writing"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2018
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Federica Capoferri
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 4:30-5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: IT 302
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course, which is conducted in Italian, aims at improving students’ ability to write texts of different types and levels of specialization, focusing on academic and professional purposes. The course has both theoretical and practical components aimed at familiarizing students with the cultural and formal elements that make texts effective, convincing and articulate.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course has both theoretical and practical components aimed at familiarizing students both to cultural and formal elements that make texts effective, convincing and articulate. On the basis of extensive analysis of a variety of advanced texts such as reports, reviews, and essays, students learn different strategies for writing clear and convincing prose on different topics/disciplines. Emphasis is placed on consolidating the use of appropriate vocabulary, register, grammatical and syntactic structures, and on the recognition and use of different structures according to different textual styles. In addition, the course is devised to provide students with critical awareness of the writing process as well on the cultural connotations distinctive of written Italian. Class time will be divided between critical discussions of readings and practical workshops, focusing on the students' own writing and research. During the workshops, students work on paraphrasing and summarizing activities, planning essays of different lengths, composing reviews and short essays, conducting bibliographic research and using different dictionaries.

 

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

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

-           plan and create a comprehensive, logically structured text on a given topic

-           Summarize/restructure/paraphrase a text based on the analysis of its logical structure

-           formulate opinions on a known topic

-           develop their ability to write an academic essay incorporating differing viewpoints, using appropriate terms, logical connectors, and appropriate grammatical structures

-           Edit a text

-           Find and use resources, and source them using the correct bibliographical format.

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Leggere, scrivere, argomentare. Prove ragionate di scritturaL. SerianniLaterza9788858119310     
Porte aperte. Con espansione on-lineMarcello SensiniMondadori9788824743617     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Parole di carta e di webF.CarliniEinaudi9788806169114  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Written Assignments/ PortfolioThe writing assignments will include a portfolio of exercises that will help build students' writing and research skills. Each assignment will be integrated by a short report on mistakes and corrections. Students are encouraged to go over their assignments at the FLRC with the Writing Couches. Assignments are due on time, no late assignments will be accepted. If you miss a class, please make sure to send your assignment via mail to the professor and to bring a hard copy the following class. More than 2 written assignments missed will result in an F in this portion of the grade. ALL THE ASSIGMENTS MUST BE TYPED AND PRINTED. 30%
Midterm ExamMidterm Exam. In-class exam. 20%
Final Exam. In-class exam. 20%
Final Paper6 pages research paper on a topic previously APPROVED by the Instructor. 10%
PresentationsStudents will be required to lead a textual and cultural discussion on an assigned text (from Scrivere, leggere, ragionare).10%
Graded Written Assignments (2)2 brief papers (2 pages each) on a topic assigned by the Instructor. Please note that you are not supposed to receive any help (including the Wrting Coach's assistance) for GRADED assignments. 10

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY

You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

 

SCHEDULE. Please note that the Instructor can male changes to the schedule.

WEEK I                                                      

Introduction to the course. Reading and writing introductory exercise
L. Serianni, “La scrittura giornalistica. L’editoriale”.Textual analysis and writing practice.
Homework: complete L. Serianni, chapter one.
Porte aperte: pp. 285-286.
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WEEK II

Focus: Lexicon, punctuaction, and style.
L. Serianni, “La scrittura giornalistica. La cronaca brillante”.
Close reading, exercises, cultural discussion.
Homework: L. Serianni. Complete exercises.
Porte aperte:  pp. 290-295.
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WEEK III

Focus: transitions, paragraphs, connettori.
L. Serianni, “La scrittura giornalistica: l’articolo d’intrattenimento”.
Exercises. In class practice.
Homework:  Porte aperte: pp. 297-307
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WEEK IV

PRESENTATION student 1-
L. Serianni,” La scrittura giornalistica: la rubrica fissa di registro brillante”.
In-class practise.
PRESENTATION student 2
L. Serianni, La scrittura giornalistica: tra cronaca e satira”.
Homework: Porte Aperte: pp. 309-313.

Graded Home Assignment 1: “Scrivete un articolo giornalistico scegliendo l’argomento
e una delle tipologie testuali studiate”. 2 pagine, space 1:5, font 12.
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WEEK V

PRESENTATION: student 3.
L.Serianni, “La scrittura giornalistica tra cronaca e costume”.
In-class practise.
Homework: Porte aperte pp. 317-322.
Re-writing Essay I.
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WEEK VI
L. Serianni. “La scrittura giornalistica. L’articolo d’intrattenimento”.
In class practice.
Homework:Porte aperte: pp- 323-328.
Summary of an academic article (1 page).
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WEEK VII

MIDTERM

L. Serianni. “La saggistica. Lingua e musica”.
Textual and cultural comprehension. Practise.
Homework: A porte aperte, pp. 329-333.
Complete the exercise in Serianni's book.
Outline and bibliography final paper DUE.
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WEEK VIII

 L Serianni. “La saggistica. Storia della scienza”.
Close reading, exercises.
How to write your abstract. Samples and practise.
Homework: A porte aperte pp 334-339.
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WEEK IX

L. Serianni. “La scrittura saggistica. Storia contemporanea”
In class exercises.
Homework:  A porte aperte: pp. 340-347.
Graded Assignment 2:  Critical review of one of your sources (3 pages).
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WEEK X

L. Serianni. “La divulgazione scientifica. Fisiologia e psicologia”
In class practice.
Homework: L. Serianni, chapter  17 “Scritture adolescenti”.
A porte aperte. Pp. 351-357.
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WEEK XII

Introduction to academic writing. How to quote, paraphrase, use footnotes and crossreferences.
In-class practice.
Feedback on your essay 2. In class self-correction.
Homework: A porte aperte pp.360-362.
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WEEK XII

Academic Writing- Continue
In class practice.
Homework: Final Paper First Draft (3 pages).
A porte aperte. PP. 384-388,PP. 422-423; PP. 425-426 (ESERCIZIO 37).
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WEEK XIII

 Feed back on your final paper
Homework: A porte aperte PP. 389-395; P. 428 ES 42; P. 429 ES. 44
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WEEK XIV

Review-In-class composition
Portfolio Due.
Final paper due.

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FINAL EXAM


 

Dizionari on-line raccomandati:

http://www.grandidizionari.it/Dizionario_Italiano.aspx
https://www.garzantilinguistica.it/ricerca/?q=ciao
http://www.treccani.it/vocabolario/

http://dizionari.corriere.it/dizionario_sinonimi_contrari/

http://www.etimo.it/