Welcome!

This class will attempt to develop logical thinking and writing in English.

Course Overview

This course provides guided instruction and extensive practical exercises and activities to enhance students’ essay-writing ability. The course begins with a basic review of paragraph and essay writing, then quickly advances to more academic writing. It uses model essays and research papers as a basis for analysis for learning more about rhetorical structures in English essay organization. Emphasis is placed on providing sources in the writing, but other vital skills such as summarizing, paraphrasing, and synthesizing are also critical to the writing process. The course is designed to facilitate the preparation for the Public Secondary School Teacher Employment Exam.

We will use a wide variety of resources this semester. These materials will be made available in the links below.

Class notes will be added on a weekly basis for review.

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Grading Criteria

Attendance & participation linked: 10%
Assignment 1 – Life Map in-class writing assignment: 5%
Assignment 2 – Review: paragraph writing assignment 5%
Assignment 3 – Final Draft of “Life Map” Essay 10%
Assignment 4 – Process Essay in-class writing assignment: 5%
Assignment 5 – Process Essay final draft: 15%
Assignment 6 – Summary - Response in-class writing assignment: 5%
Assignment 7 – Summary - Response final draft: 15%
Assignment 8 – Reference List for research paper in APA 7th format with at least 5 citations: 5%
Assignment 9 - Rough draft of research paper: 5%
Assignment 10 - Final draft of research paper: 20%

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Expectations

Attendance/Participation
Attendance is mandatory: Participants who arrive to class 10 minutes or more after class begins will be considered late. Participants who are late 3 times will receive 1 absence. Any participant who misses 1/4 of all class meetings will receive an F. Mastery of the ideas and concepts of this course requires engagement and discussion. If you are not in class, you miss that opportunity to exchange ideas. Moreover, participation is also essential. Just coming to class is not enough. I expect all participants to be active in class discussion and lectures as well as to complete all oral and written assignments.

Written Work
Late assignments will not be accepted under any circumstances.

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Additional Resources

Here are the APA Guidelines to be used when providing in-text citations and reference lists: https://apastyle.apa.org/

Tentative Semester Schedule

This is a tentative schedule because I will adjust the course of study based on your needs. We may spend more time on some aspects an less time on others based on your individual stregnths and weaknesses.

Time	Topic
Week 1	Intro to course, getting to know you activity (Life Map), initial writing assessment (based on Life Map)
Week 2	Review Paragraph organization and development - Chapter 1
Week 3	Paragraph Writing Continued - Introduce Peer Editing
Week 4	From Paragraphs to Essays Part 1 - Chapter 2
Week 5	Finish - From Paragraphs to Essays Part 1 - Chapter 2
Week 6	Chapter 3 - Process Essay
Week 7	Essay One Rough Draft - Peer Review
Week 8	Chapter 7 - Summary - Response
Week 9	Finish - Chapter 7 - Summary & Response
Week 10	Chapter 9 - Research Paper
Week 11	Essay Two Rough Draft - Peer Review
Week 12	TBA Final Draft Essay 2 Due
Week 13	Finish Chapter 9 - Research Paper
Week 14	Rough Draft Research Paper due- Peer Review
Week 15	Class Closure (Survey) Final Draft Research Paper Due
Week 16	make-up week

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