Course Description: This course builds on the basic writing skills acquired in COM 101 to improve the academic writing of students and prepare them for the various types of writing they are likely to find in advanced courses at this university. The course focuses on the development of critical thinking, active reading, and analytical writing skills across the curriculum. Students will learn and practice the writing structures and forms necessary to implement and express these skills.

Textbook: Spack, R. (1998). Guidelines: A cross-cultural reading/writing text. (2nd ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Course Objectives:

To foster the development of a deeper understanding of the writing process and the skills needed to write academic essays at more advanced levels.

To enable students to become more thoughtful readers and more critical thinkers.

To develop the students' ability in reading and understanding essays and articles from various professional disciplines and points of view.

To organize a relatively short argumentative essay supported by appropriately used sources.

To enable students to proofread their essays to identify and correct structural and grammatical errors.

To document sources using proper citation form.

To introduce students to information literacy by developing basic library and Internet research skills.

Essay #1 (500 words)  (10%)

Essay #2 (1,000 words)  (20%)

Essay #3 (1,000 words)  (20%)

Midterm Exam  (10%)

Final Exam  (20%)

Quizzes & Other Assignments  (10%)

Information Literacy Quiz  (5%)

Participation  (5%)

Grade Definitions:

A  (90-100)  Exemplary: Exceeds meritoriousness to the extent that it may serve as an example or model for excellence to others.

B  (80-89)  Meritorious: Fully meets all requirements and exceeds basic competence, giving the work distinction.

C  (70-79)  Satisfactory: Fully meets all requirements of the assignment or course with a basic level of competence for students entering college.

D  (60-69)  Marginal: Fails to meet all requirements or meets all requirements but below a basic level of competence, but is not considered failing.

F  (Below 60)  Failing: Falls significantly short of requirements or basic competence, or both.

Late Work: All assignments are considered late if not turned in on time and will be penalized.

Make-up Exams: The university guidelines for make-up exams, as defined in the catalog, are as follows: "Instructors need not give substitute assignments or examinations to students who miss classes."”

Attendance & Punctuality: The university guidelines for lateness and attendance, as defined in the catalog, are as follows:

Any absence may affect the student's grade.

Three occasions of lateness count as one absence. Lateness is defined by the instructor.

In the event a student misses 15% of the sessions in a class for any reason, the instructor, with the approval of the dean, may initiate withdrawal of the student from the course.

Writing Center: You are strongly advised to make use of the AUS Writing Center (A208) during the semester. I encourage you to make an appointment and visit a tutor at the Center to work on your papers at any stage of the writing process. Writing Center tutors will provide one-on-one instruction in prewriting, writing, and revising, as needed. However, they will not proofread or edit your papers.

Academic Misconduct & Plagiarism: All students need to read, sign, and abide by the plagiarism statement (see attached statement).

Schedule:
(Note: This schedule is subject to change. Other readings from the text or outside sources may be added or substituted for those listed below as needed. Exact due dates for assignments will be decided later.)

Week 1
Course introduction
 Diagnostic writing sample

Week 2
Chapter 1: Reading Strategies (pp. 2-7)
Chapter 2: Keeping a Reading/Writing Journal (pp. 8-12)
Library Information Literacy Workshop (Tuesday, February 5, Library Room #M306)

Week 3
"The School Days of an Indian Girl" (pp. 16-21)
"Waiting in Line at the Drug Store" (pp. 22-24)
Chapter 21: Summarizing (pp. 272-276)

Week 4
"College" (pp. 25-30)
Chapter 22: Paraphrasing (pp. 279-284)
Chapter 5: Guidelines for Writing from Experience (pp. 43-53)
In-class Workshop: Prewriting for Essay #1 (Writing from Experience)

Week 5
"The Rewards of a Solitary Life" (pp. 37-39)
Chapter 23: Quoting (pp. 287-290)
Peer editing for Essay #1

Week 6
"Friends, Good Friends--and Such Good Friends" (pp. 65-68)
"Myth, Reality and Shades of Gray" (pp. 69-74)
Essay #1 Due

Week 7
"Intercultural Communication Stumbling Blocks" (pp. 75-83)
Chapter 8: Guidelines for Writing from Field Research (pp. 107-117)
Midterm Exam

Week 8
"Social Time: The Heartbeat of Culture" (pp. 84-91)
In-class Workshop: Planning Essay #2 (Writing from Field Research)

Week 9
"The Relationship between International and U.S.-born Students" (p. 118-122)
Chapter 24: Citing and Documenting Sources (pp. 298-309)
Peer editing for Essay #2

Week 10
"We Should Cherish Our Children's Freedom to Think" (pp. 125-127)
"Teach Knowledge, Not 'Mental Skills'" (pp. 128-129)
Essay #2 Due

Week 11
"The Farce Called 'Grading'" (pp. 130-134)
Chapter 11: Guidelines for Writing about Essays (pp. 148-165)

Week 12
"Grades and Self-esteem" (pp. 135-137)
In-class Workshop: Planning Essay #3 (Writing about Essays)

Week 13
"Is Creativity Suppressed by Knowledge?" (pp. 163-165)
Peer editing/Conferences

Week 14
Conferences/Review for final exam
Essay #3 Due

Week 15
Final Exam (With other sections of COM 102)
 

Last Updated: February 5, 2002