Graduate Writing Workshop Syllabus
Fall 2015
Instructor: Shogofa Abassi
Email: sabassi@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: Arts and Letters (AL) 330
Office Hours:
Course Description
This course is designed to provide graduate students with the academic writing skills that will
help them be more successful in their future careers. Writing workshop to include styles, norms,
and argument in academic writing. Class discussion focuses on the central role of rhetorical
positioning in the development of a clear, interesting, and rigorous research paper. We talk about
the including reader -oriented writing, genre, precision, tone, and strategies useful for redrafting
and editing. Some of the sub-genres we analyze and practice include introductions,
commentaries, results/discussion, conclusions, and abstracts. An important course goal is the
refinement of students’ skills as critical readers so that they are able to offer explicit and useful
feedback to colleagues and co-writers. Students receive detailed feedback on their writing
through class activities as well as individual conferencing throughout the course. During all
editing and redrafting activities, attention is given to the structure and logic of the author's
argument, the use of detail and visuals, the placement of transitions, word choice, and flow.
Course Objectives
 Learn the basics of academic writing style.
 Organize ideas.
 Practice a variety of rhetorical modes.
 Learn to cite information from sources.
 Learn how to revise their writing.
 Learn critical thinking skills
Grading
Attendance and Participation
Short Writing assignments and exercises
Final Research Paper
25%
25%
50%
Attendance
You are expected to attend every class and participate actively. In-class activities are
essential for your success in improving your writing skills. If you are ill or unable to attend
class, please contact the instructor. Finally, it is important that you arrive at class on time so
as not to interrupt the instructor or other students.
Instructor’s Expectations of Students:
 Attend every class session
 Arrive on time
 Have cell phones turned off
 Prepare thoroughly for each class
 Turn in assignments on time.
 Ask questions.
 Paraphrase and cite all ideas not your own.
 Respect everyone in class.
Class Schedule (Subject to change at instructor’s discretion)
Date
Topic
Assignments Due
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Introductions, Course Plans
Using Sources Effectively
Finding sources and taking
notes
Making an outline
Literature Review
Descriptive Writing
Comparison and Contrast
Revising drafts
Preliminary Thesis Statement
Research notes & Outline
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Cause and Effect
Revising drafts
Writing conclusions
Part 1 Draft 1
Part 1 Draft 2
Part 2 Draft 1
Part 2 Draft 2
Part 2 Draft 3
Intro & Conclusion Draft 1
Intro & Conclusion Draft 2
Paper (Final Draft)
Useful websites:
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/tools/report/reportform.html
http://www.infoplease.com/homework/t1termpaper1.html