The emphasis of this course is more focused on critical thinking and logical analysis employed in reading texts, and planning and writing your own. It will involve reading a variety of essays and articles in order to deconstruct the elements and stimulate our own writing skills. There will be a prevalence of writing activities, peer reviews and workshops aimed at skills development. Structural and grammatical issues will be dealt with on an ad hoc basis.

This will be done through:

• An analysis and practice of building a variety of paragraph structures to form a range of essay types

• Looking at the 5 stages of the writing process; planning, drafting, revising, editing and proofreading

• Developing an understanding of research techniques and sources, as well as correctly citing sources

• Discovering how to effectively formulate and develop ideas, using appropriate rhetorical modes, while employing relevant appeals to the reader

• Working on the clarity of writing through; the use of appropriate language, the balancing of ideas, and useful transitional words and expressions

• Understanding the pitfalls to avoid in English writing, and typical mistakes to be aware of

All of this will be realized through:

• analytical exercises carried out through pair-work, small groups and plenary feedback

• interactive workshop activities

• practical writing sessions

• Peer review sessions

• Assessed and non-assessed essay writing

This course focuses on:

• Planning and writing essays

• Understanding of and developing the Introduction/Main body/Conclusion structured essay

• Critical thinking employing sound deductive and inductive logic

• Understanding logical fallacies

• Critical reading and analytical skills

At the end of the course, the student will be able to

Understand rhetoric and write:

• grammatically & idiomatically correct sentences

• a strong Thesis Statement

• a Topic Sentence & supporting arguments

• a detailed outline

• cohesive paragraphs using a variety of rhetorical modes

• developed argumentative, persuasive and analytical essays

• critical summaries

• and, plan and write an essay following all the 5 stages: planning, drafting, revising, editing and proofreading

Read critically:

• critically analyse viewpoints in a text

• understand challenging materials

• and annotate texts

Grammar issues will be dealt with on an ad hoc basis:

Develop advanced academic vocabulary:

• use correct and appropriate vocabulary in academic register

• subject specific terminology

• transitioning words and expressions

• using techniques to expand your vocabulary

Research sources:

• evaluating sources

• using databases

• web-based sources

• basic library tools

• MLA format for correct citing of sources

• avoiding plagiarism

·        If you are unable to attend a class session, you should make arrangements with one or more of your classmates to catch up on anything you missed. While illness and emergencies are often unavoidable and understandable, this does not affect how the absence policy will be applied.

Keep in mind that it will be difficult for you to make up missed peer reviews, small group discussions, and spoken lectures and instructions. Even if you are not able to attend, you are still responsible for making sure any assignments due that day are in my hands by the start of class.















You are expected to do your own work. Cheating, plagiarism and any other form of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.

Class participation is part of your grade in this course. This includes both library sessions. To participate you must attend class having prepared the materials for the day. All students are expected to come to class prepared and on time, and remain for the full class period.

Disruptive behavior will result in dismissal from the class and will be counted as one absence. This includes repeatedly entering and leaving the class once the lesson has begun, doing work for other classes during this class, inappropriate use of the computers (checking on your e-mail while in class, surfing the ‘net, etc), talking to others while someone else is talking, repeatedly arriving late to class, sleeping, using profanity, personal or physical threats or insults, damaging property.