UNIVERSIDAD DE ESPECIALIDADES ESPÍRITU SANTO
FACULTAD DE ESTUDIOS INTERNACIONALES
SYLLABUS
ENGLISH VERSION
FOR DAC 11 VER 12 03 09
COURSE: Principles of Writing
FACULTY: David Breon
# CONTACT HRS: 48
YEAR: 2010
DAYS: Mon-Thurs
ROOM #: F-203
CODE: ULNG 100(63)
CREDITS: 3
#NON CONTACT HOURS: 96
PERIOD: Fall 1
SCHEDULE: 12:00-1:20 a.m.
DATE: August 2010
1.- DESCRIPTION
Language 100 is a foundational course designed to help students develop their written English skills. Writing
is be directed by: assigned readings, class discussions, and individual experience. Students have the
opportunity to gain confidence in their capabilities to express themselves better in English with higher
grammatical accuracy.
Language 100 is the last in the sequence of English “bridge” courses, so-called because their intent is to
help Spanish-speaking students more completely make a transition to learning and communicating in
English. To that end, we will interact with and respond to texts in ways that should assist you with your
university work and beyond, whatever discipline or field of study you pursue.
2.- JUSTIFICATION
This course is essential to learning how to write effectively in English. If students want to take classes in an
English-speaking university, they will need to know the proper techniques of writing. Also, since the language
of business is English, a student must learn how to communicate well via writing.
3.- OBJECTIVES
3 a. GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The general objective of this course is to provide writing instruction for a number of common paper types
starting with the academic paragraph and continuing with a number of the most common essay types.
Students will do this via the “Writing Process” and they will also work on specific grammar needs decided by
the teacher at the beginning of the class.
3 b. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
After taking this course, students will be able to produce well-developed, coherent essays in English. They
will be able to do this via the “Writing Process” which includes brainstorming, planning, writing, proofreading,
and revision. Students will learn how to write a narrative essay, descriptive essay, cause and effect essay,
process analysis essay, compare and contrast essay, and a persuasive essay.
4.- COMPETENCIES
- Students will be able to write an academic paragraph with a topic sentence, supporting sentences and a
concluding sentence
- Students will be able to write the parts of an essay: introduction, body and conclusion.
- Students will be able to write a thesis statement and identify different types of thesis statements.
- Students will be able to write a hook and identify different types of hooks.
- Students will be able to use transitions properly.
- Students will be able to identify and write narrative, descriptive, cause and effect, problem and solution and
persuasive essays.
- Students will be able to research effectively and learn to avoid plagiarism.
5.- COURSE CONTENT OUTLINE
Date
Specific competencies
Aug. 30
Demonstrates awareness of
principles of formal letter
writing
Aug. 31
Demonstrates knowledge of
sentence structure and
common grammatical errors
Identifies the parts and
characteristics of a paragraph
Sept. 1
Sept. 2
Sept. 3
Sept. 6
Identifies the parts and
characteristics of a paragraph
Identifies the parts and
characteristics of a paragraph
Demonstrates narrative skills
Sept. 7
Presents topic sentences with
strong controlling idea
Sept. 8
Demonstrates descriptive
writing skills, especially use of
adjectives
Sept. 9
Illustrates impressions with
descriptive details
Sept. 13
Demonstrates cohesion using
connecting words and phrases
Contents
Non-contact
hours (96 hrs)
Formal letter (4
hrs)
Assessment
Introduction to
Writing/
In-class
assignment –Student Participation
job interview
and follow-up
letter
Grammar
Grammar
exercises and
exercises
review
(handout)
Brainstorming
Sample Essay
and topic
sentences
Chapter 1.
Research
Developing
supporting
supporting
evidence
ideas
The Academic
Sample Essay
Paragraph /
Due
Topic
Sentences/
Controlling
Ideas / In-class
writing
assignment
(Cont.)
Chapter 2
Developing Comp
Narrating
Skills Pp(150)(2hrs)
Discusses employment
opportunities. Prepares formal letter
of application
Narrating/
Grammar
Needs Focus
based upon the
PreAssessment
Assignment
Chapter 3
Describing.
Adjectives
brainstorm
Describing
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(150)(2hrs)
Narrative Essay
Assignment (4
hours)
Composes narrative composition
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(51-69)
Discusses adjective use. Identifies
effective description
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(51-69)
Composes descriptive essay
Describing / Inclass
Assignment
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(51-69)
Descriptive Essay
Assignment (4
Composes descriptive essay
Identifies key principles of sentence
structure
Elaborates brainstorm and
evaluates thesis statements
Develops convincing supporting
ideas
Identifies appropriate supporting
details. Composes unified academic
paragraph
Discusses narrative components
hrs)
Sept. 14
Identifies generalizations and
support
Sept. 15
Illustrates support with factual
details and examples
Reviews description, narration
and analyzing reasons
Demonstrates thorough
knowledge of description and
narrative writing
One-on-one feedback
Illustrates support with factual
details and examples
Sept. 16
Sept. 20
Sept. 21
Sept. 23
Chapter 4
Analyzing
reasons
Analyzing
reasons
Exam review
Midterm Exam
Analyzing
reasons
Sept. 24
Presents preparation for
writing and analyse processes
Sept. 27
Demonstrates organised
writing in chronological order
Sept. 28
Presents step-by-step process
analysis
Sept. 29
Demonstrates ability to
compare and contrast using
wide range of vocabulary
Chapter 6
Comparing and
Contrasting
Identifies points of comparision
and organize by subject
Sept. 30
Chapter 5
Analyzing
Processes
Analyzing
Processes
Analyzing
Processes Inclass
assignment
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(70-96)
Evaluates effective reasoning.
Analyzes reasoning.
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(70-96)
Revise for midterm
NA
Analyzes reasoning. Composes
analyzing reasons essay
Discusses and identifies key
components of first partial
Demonstrates effective
understanding of principles of
composition
NA
Analyzes reasoning, demonstrates
effective use of supporting details.
NA
Women are just
better (The Short
Prose Reader)
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(97-116)
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(97-116)
Discusses principles of process
analysis. Identifies methods of
process analysis
Composes process analysis essay
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(97-116)
Short Prose
Pp(338-380)(2
hrs)
Journal Writing
(2hrs)
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(117141)
Composes process analysis essay
Comparing and
Contrasting
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(117141) Comparison
and contrast
assignment (4
hrs)
Compares and contrasts selected
topics. Discusses points of contrast.
Composes comparison contrast
essay.
Compares and contrasts selected
topics. Discusses points of contrast.
Oct. 4
Demonstrates knowledge of
principles of classification
Chapter 7
Classifying music
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(143169)
Identifies prínciples of classification.
Elaborates descriptions of groups.
Oct. 5
Demonstrates knowledge of
principles of classification
Classifying people
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(143169)
Identifies prínciples of classification.
Elaborates descriptions of groups.
Oct. 6
Introduces and supports
categories
Classifying. Inclass
assignment
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(143169)
Composes a classification essay.
Oct. 7
Identifies g
çfgveneralizations and support
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(170200)
Evaluates the effects of human
inventions.
Oct. 11
Illustrates main idea with
factual details and examples
Chapter 8
Evaluating
effects inventions
Evaluating
effects – lies
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(170-
Evaluates the effects of dishonesty
and honesty.
Oct. 12
Illustrates main idea with
factual details and examples
Oct. 12
Revises for the exam
Oct. 13
Demonstrates sound
knowledge of the principles of
writing
One-on-one feedback
Oct. 17
Evaluating
effects In-class
written
assignment
Exam
preparation
Final exam
200). Written
assignment
Developing Comp
Skills Pp(170200). Written
assignment
Exam preparation
NA
NA
Evaluates the effects of human
inventions. Composes evaluating
effects essay.
Discusses and identifies key
components of second partial
Demonstrates effective
understanding of principles of
composition
NA
6. METHODOLOGY
Writing courses such as this one are not simply lecture courses per se. While lecture components are
incorporated into the classroom format, this is a participatory writing and reading course that requires the
active, constant, and consistent engagement in classroom discussion and activities on the part of all
students. Students will be expected to incorporate critical thinking and reading skills in all classroom and
out-of-classroom activities. Each day’s activities may include a lecture component, large and/or small group
discussions, reading and responding to each other’s work, writing exercises, and other interactive activities.
The assigned readings for this class include pages from both texts. Occasionally other readings – including
this syllabus! – may be assigned. Not all of the reading material will be discussed, but may be tested upon;
therefore, it is the responsibility of each student to read and know the material assigned.
In addition to daily homework, there will be a written assignment every WEEK.
Peer interaction is a crucial component of a participatory writing class. Peer interaction includes, but is not
limited to, discussion and exchange of opinions, both verbally and in writing, the reading and commenting on
the work of others.
7. EVALUATION
7.1 Assessment Criteria




Written assignments
Written exercises
Group discussions
Literary analysis
7.2 Performance Markers




Demonstrates ability to write academic paragraphs including topic sentences,
support and conclusion
Demonstrates thorough knowledge of structural writing principles
Composes seven specific types of essays: narrative, descriptive, analyzing
reasons, analyzing processes, comparison and contrast, classification and
evaluating effects
Identifies differences between specific compositions (see above)
7.3 Weighting
EACH PARTIAL:
40% WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS AND QUIZZES
10% HOMEWORK AND PARTICIPATION
50 % MID-TERM AND FINAL EXAM

100 points TOTAL
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY
PRIMARY TEXT:

Developing Composition Skills: Rhetoric and Grammar Mary K. Ruetten
SECONDARY TEXT:


Introduction to College Writing
Various handouts
9. FACULTY INFORMATION
NAME:
David Michael Breon
.
ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS--UNDERGRAD:
BS Spanish with Minor in History, University of Central Missouri, MO, EE.UU
GRADUATE: MA Spanish, University of Missouri-Columbia, MO, EE.UU
E – MAIL: dbreon@uees.edu.ec
10.
Prepared by: David Breon
Reviewed by: Dean Monica Reynoso
Date: August 2010
Date: August 2010