Week One:
Lesson 1 - Introduction to Course
Syllabus and Requirements.
Plagiarism Policy.
How to address Professors and Etiquette. (With text examples.)
How to annotate (mark up) a text. (With text examples.)
Homework: 1. Read and annotate text. 2. Write a letter to your professor describing a problem you having doing/handing in an assignment.
Lesson 2 - Formal and Informal Register and Blog Writing; Grammar, Spelling, and Snobbery
Homework Review.
Formal and Informal Register. (With text examples.)
How to Write a Blog Post.
Grammar, spelling, and snobbery.
Edit a blogpost (handout).
Discussion: How do we make this informal article into a more formal one?
Homework: 1. Get ready for a quiz on course policy. 2. Write three paragraphs on a chosen topic.
Week Two:
Lesson 1 - Page Layout, Outlining, and Paragraphing, MLA, Formatting
Homework Review, including quiz on course policy.
Moving on from informal writing to formal.
Page Layout.
MLA
OWL
Brainstorming
Outlining and Paragraphing
In class exercise: Re-write your paragraphs based on what we’ve just learned.
Rules of an effective writers’ workshop.
Workshop paragraphs (all together).
Workshop paragraphs (with partners).
Homework: 1. Revise your paragraphs based on what we learned in class. 2. Read and annotate article.
Lesson 2 - Critical Reading, Source Criticism, Summary
Homework review.
Email List.
Finding good texts and sources (with examples).
How to mark up a text if you’re using it to prove a point.
How to summarize a text (with text examples).
In-class summary exercise.
In-class workshop exercise.
Homework: Read and annotate article. Then, write up a summary of the article.
Week Three:
Lesson 1 - Writing as Response: Entering the Conversation and Argument: Paraphrasing, Quotation, and Plagiarism
Reacting to a text (with text examples).
Agreeing.
Disagreeing.
Other ways of responding.
Plagiarism.
Quotation and Paraphrasing.
How to summarize, this time with quotations!
Homework: 1. Study for quiz on plagiarism, quotations, and paraphrasing. 1. Read and annotate article. Then, summarize with quotations and paraphrasing.
Lesson 2 - Quiz on Plagiarism, Quotations, and Plagiarism, and Library Session
Quiz on plagiarism, quotations, and plagiarism
First library session: Finding and narrowing a topic, guide to finding sources, gathering sources in the library, bibliography and annotated bibliography.
Homework: Read and annotate article. Then, summarize with quotations and paraphrasing.
After Week Three, we will change to the more writing-intensive section of the course, and will also be doing a bit of work in the library.
Week Four:
Lesson 1 - Using a Text as Evidence
Read and annotate text in class.
Write up summary of text.
Write up a paragraph stating a view, using the text to prove your point.
Workshop of paragraphs.
Homework: Extend your paragraph to three paragraphs, using your own research. Make sure you use MLA.
Lesson 2 - Library Session
Homework Review.
Second Library Session: Finding and narrowing a topic, guide to finding sources, gathering sources in the library, bibliography and annotated bibliography.
Homework: Come up with a topic you are interested in for our in-class essay #1 next week. The more research you do the better off you’ll be.
Week Five:
Lesson 1 - In-Class Essay #1
Write in-class essay.
Homework: Insert supportive
Lesson 2 - Workshop In-Class Essay #1
Workshop in-class essay.
Homework: Come up with a topic you are interested in for our in-class essay #2 next week. The more research you do the better off you’ll be.
Week Six:
Lesson 1 - In-Class Essay #2
Write in-class essay.
Homework: None.
Lesson 2 - Workshop In-Class Essay #2
Workshop in-class essay.
Homework: 1. Pick a topic for your final paper. 2. Bring in an article or paper you admire.
Week Seven:
Lesson 1 - Topics and Papers we Admire
FINAL PAPER TOPIC DUE. Bring it to me and discuss it with me.
Present papers we admire to partners, and why.
In-class writing exercise.
Homework: Change your topic, or refine it, if I have asked you to.
Lesson 2 - Brainstorming
FINAL PAPER TOPIC DUE IF IT WAS NOT APPROVED BEFORE.
How to brainstorm.
Brainstorm individually.
Brainstorm together.
Start to fashion an organized plan from brainstorm. How do the different ideas all connect?
Homework: Brainstorm for your topic.
Week Eight:
Lesson 1 - Brainstorm review and outlining.
BRAINSTORM DUE.
Organize brainstorm into outline form.
Workshop with partners.
In-class exercise: What sources do you need?
Homework: Full outline and sources list.
Lesson 2 - The Bones of the Outline, and Fleshing them Out
OUTLINE DUE. SOURCES, TOO.
In-class writing: Write one paragraph of your essay.
In-class workshop of paragraphs.
Rewrite paragraph.
Meet with me to talk about your paragraph.
Homework: First draft of essay.
Week Nine:
Lesson 1 - First Draft!
FIRST DRAFT DUE.
In-class workshop of first draft.
Lesson 2 - First Draft, Continued!
In-class conferences with me, of first draft of essay.
Homework: Second draft of essay.
Week Ten:
Lesson 1 - Second Draft!
SECOND DRAFT DUE.
In-class workshop of second draft.
Lesson 2 - Second Draft, Continued!
In-class conferences with me, of second draft of essay.
In-class workshop of cited sources pages and quotations.
Homework: Third draft of essay.
Week Eleven:
Lesson 1 - Third Draft!
THIRD DRAFT DUE.
In-class workshop of third drafts.
Homework: Keep working!
Lesson 2 - Third Draft, Continued!
In-class workshop of third drafts.
Conferences with me of third drafts.
Homework keep working!
Week Twelve:
Lesson 1 - The Beginning of the End
In-class workshop and conferences of final papers—and anything else that’s left!
Homework: The final paper!
Lesson 2 - FINAL PAPERS DUE.
FINAL PAPERS DUE
Exploration of other kinds of writing.
Individual conferences with me about presentations.
Week Thirteen:
Lesson 1 - Presentations (Exams)
Lesson 2 - Presentations (Exams)