Required Text:
- Seyler, Dorothy U. Read, Reason, Write: An Argument Text and Reader. 10th Edition. McGraw-Hill, 2012.
Writing Assignments:
- Four formal papers ranging from approximately 3-6 pages each
- one longer research paper (approximately 8-10 pages)
- drafts of major
assignments for workshop sessions - daily reading and writing homework exercises
and chapter summaries - and a semester writing log for the final paper project.
This course will
concentrate on developing and improving students’ skills in writing clear,
academic, university-level prose. The approach in this course will emphasize the notion of writing as a working process. While working on both informal
exercises and developing more formal essay assignments, students will explore a
number of essential stages involved in the writing process which includes
brainstorming and initial inquiry research, outlining and drafting, peer
reviewing, revising, editing, and proofreading their final project. The emphasis in this course will also include recognizing the significant connection between reading and writing where the development of better critical/analytical thinking skills produces
more self-reflective writers. The focus of our major writing assignments will be helping student-writers understand the rhetorical situation in which we write–that is, writing with a purpose; understanding your audience,
situation/context, stance, and effective writing strategies and approaches used
to communicate ideas clearly and convincingly.
Daily class activities will involve a collaborative workshop atmosphere where students will engage in class discussions and informal writing sessions. Students will also often work in smaller groups, analyzing reading assignments, which are directly relevant to a particular writing task, understanding how particular writing concepts and
strategies work within a variety of types of writing, and reviewing and
commenting on drafts of peer work. All in-class activities and homework assignments will focus on improvement in writing clarity, focus, and clear and purposeful organization of ideas in order to produce effective, meaningful writing. Formal writing assignments will also emphasize students learning how to effectively use and integrate current, credible research into their arguments according to an appropriate set of style and formatting guidelines.