Course Title: English Written Proficiency II – Academic Writing
Class: 2nd yr., 2hrs./annual
Lecturer: David Wapner : Phone: 0523 280 134 email: dmwapner@inter.net.il
Course Description: Lecture and Practicum
Course Objectives:
1. The student will learn to select and organize relevant ideas and information for
effective expression.
2. The student will learn to apply appropriate rhetorical styles to specific writing
purposes
3. The student will learn to plan, develop and write an effective academic essay
and research paper.
Topics of Study:
Semester A
Unit 1 - week 1
Preparing to write: choosing a topic, developing and organizing
ideas.
Unit 2 - weeks 2-6 Review of the expository and argumentative essay structure:
Outline and organization: Thesis , Topic Sentences, Coherence
Avoiding logical fallacies. Introductory paragraphs, concluding
paragraphs.
.
Unit 3 – weeks 7-14 Writing an essay of comparison and/or contrast. Different
organizational patterns, sample essays, practice, editing and
revision
Semester B
Unit 5 – weeks 15-16 Understanding the nature and style of academic writing:
Reading, reviewing and analyzing sample articles.
Unit 6 – weeks 17-20 Learning to summarize academic articles.
Unit 7 – weeks 20-22 Distinguishing your voice from your source . Principles of
proper documentation. References and Bibliography. Using the
Internet . APA citation style. Plagiarism.
Unit 8 – weeks 23-28 Writing about academic topics. Comparing and contrasting
professional articles, synthesizing professional literature into a unified whole.
Ongoing – Review of writing problems: sentence structure and word order,
subject/verb agreement, fragments, run-on sentences, comma splices,
punctuation problems.
Teaching Methods:
1.Pre-writing activities: collaborative activities – extensive reading and
discussion of topics, shared writing tasks.
2. Guidance through initial draft and early revisions of writing
3. Use of computer lab.
4. Use of computer tools and the internet as aids in editing and development of
ideas.
Student Requirements:
1. In-class written exercises
2. Short written assignments
3. 2-3 full-length essays per semester
Student Assessment:
1. 5-6 full-length essays – 50%
2. in-class written assignments – 30%
3. take home final essay – 20%
Bibliography:
1. Bailey, S. (2003). Academic Writing: A Practical Guide for Students. London:
Routledge Falmer. Questia database:
http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=109429538 (you received a questia
password last year).
1. Bailey, S. (2006). Academic Writing : A Handbook for International
Students. London: Routledge
2. Blass, L. and Pike-Baky, M. (1990) Mosaic II- A Content-Based
Writing Book,
N.Y.: McGraw-Hill.
3. Glendinning E. and Mantell H. (1983) Write Ideas, London:
Longman.
4. Grellet, F. (1996). Writing for Advanced Learners of English.
Cambridge:
Cambridge Univ. Press.
5. Oshima , A. and Hogue, A. (1997). Writing Academic English.
London: Longman.
6. Oshima, A. (1997) Introduction to Academic Writing, London:
Longman .
7. Pincus, A. (1982) Teachin English Writing, London: McMillan Press.
8. Pincus A. and Hadfield, C. (1982) Writing in English 3, London:
McMillan Press.
9. Smalzer, W. (1996) Write to Be Read, Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press
Internet Resources:
1. Guide to Grammar and Writing, http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar
2. Elements of Style, www.bartleby.com
3. Purdue University http://owl.english.purdue.edu
4. APA citation style
http://www.library.cornell.edu/newhelp/res_strategy/citing/apa.html
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/