İstanbul Şehir Üniversitesi
CAW 501 Critical Academic Writing
Syllabus
Term: Spring 2015: 16 February 2015 – 29 May 2015 (15 weeks)
Course Number: CAW 501 A & B
Instructors: David R. Albachten & Marcella Rana Özenç
E-mail: davidalbachten@sehir.edu.tr & marcellaozenc@sehir.edu.tr
Phone: (Writing Center Sehir extension) 9270
Office: Writing Center Offices, 417 & 416
Main Text:
Academic Writing for Graduate Students, 2nd edition, by J. M. Swales & C. B. Feak (The
University of Michigan Press, 2004)
ISBN: 0-472-08856-4
Supplementary Texts (provided as needed):
1. The Craft of Research, 3rd edition, by W. C. Booth, G. G. Colomb, & J. M. Williams (The
University of Chicago Press, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0-226-06566-9
2. English in Today's Research World: A Writing Guide, by J. M. Swales & C. B. Feak (The
University of Michigan Press, 2000)
ISBN: 0-472-08713-4
Additional materials provided to the students as handouts or e-copies.
Course Description:
This course guides students through the process of writing an academic essay,
criticism/response paper, proposal, thesis/dissertation, or an article for publication,
following the guidelines/practices of their field. The course topics include: idea organization
and development, structure and organization of texts, audience, claims, summaries,
critiques, argumentation, word choice, grammar, and revising their own writing. The class
also exposes the students to close and critical readings as examples. Plagiarism and APA
documentation and citation of sources are also covered early in the class and emphasized
throughout. Individual attention is an integral part of the course. If time and interest
permits, oral presentation skills will be explored.
The reading and writing assignments and in-class activities will be determined by the specific
needs of the students in this class, i.e., their level of language proficiency and current
knowledge of article, critique/response, proposal, and thesis/dissertation writing. Also, as
much as possible, particularly towards the end of the class, writing assignments will be
coordinated with faculty so practical student work can be incorporated.
This class is neither a substitute for advice and direction by a thesis advisor on content nor
assistance with close editing of individual writing projects. Rather it is designed to assist
students in taking charge of communicating their ideas and thoughts in academic English.
Objectives:
1) To introduce students to the research prospectus and thesis/dissertation writing process
with the focus on both the rhetorical framework and grammatical patterns germane to
these tasks and the purpose of the research project.
2) To provide training in regularly occurring rhetorical tasks and patterns associated with
writing up research. This course includes but is not limited to: producing literature reviews,
critiques/response papers, and/or annotated bibliographies with the concentration on
conventions of style and format of specific academic disciplines, synthesizing and relating
verbal and nonverbal materials, analyzing research data, and drawing conclusions.
3) To provide training for the development of self-editing and proofreading skills.
4) To provide individual assistance with the drafting phase of documents.
Attendance, Course Work, and Grading:
Attendance at all classes is essential and expected. In order to fulfill your goals for this class,
it is important that you do all the homework and assignments on time. Reading of assigned
materials as per dates given is expected. If you cannot attend a class, you are still
responsible for the work, materials, content, and assignments.
The course is graded on a Pass-Fail basis. In order to achieve a “Pass”, students must
attend class, actively participate, and turn in all the assignments. Time and interest
permitting, each student will be expected to deliver a 10-minute presentation on a research
topic to the class, in the correct presentation format discussed in class, as if in a formal
defense where the presenter will be expected to answer questions in his research area.
Writing Conference Attendance, Schedule, and Format:
As needed, individual writing conferences may be held inside or outside of class.
Papers:
In addition to homework and in-class exercises, you will compose paper assignments for this
course: chosen to meet your academic needs and expectations for this course.
As you are working on your assignments, make sure that you date and keep each piece of
writing connected with them. Most rough and all final drafts of all assignments must be
typed. Revision is an important component of the class, it is not possible to succeed in the
class if students fall behind in their assignments.
Format: The document format calls for a 2.54 cm margin on all sides of the paper. The
paper is set up for double line spacing. The header is 1.25 cm from the top of the page. The
header has the student’s last name and page number. The top of the first page has the
student’s first and last name, the teacher’s name, course name (or code), the due date, and
word count all set left justified. The name of the paper follows and is center justified. The
body of the paper calls for the first line to be indented 1.25 cm from the left. The body text
is also left justified. As per university requirements, the text should be set in Calibri font at
11 or 12 points. The pages should also be numbered. Run your paper through a SPELL
CHECKER before submitting. Your papers should be composed and polished to the best of
your abilities. Papers submitted without meeting these guidelines will be deemed
“unacceptable” and will be considered “late” until the submission guidelines are met.
Should there be citations or references APA format should be followed.
Per the instructor, e-mailing papers as attachments may be preferred. However, all steps
requested before submitting apply.
Plagiarism Policy:
Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s work or ideas without acknowledging them as the
source. This applies to all writing assignments in this course and your other courses at the
university. The work unfairly used could be in written form (print or electronic, published or
unpublished) or in spoken form (public or private). As with any other form of cheating,
plagiarism is seen as a serious violation of academic ethics; therefore, any student who has
plagiarized is liable to be penalized severely. The penalties are usually a failing course grade,
suspension for a quarter, or expulsion from the university.
You are required to acknowledge your sources of information whenever your
work has relied on the words or thoughts of others.
It is particularly important that you learn to recognize the forms which plagiarism
may take in student writing. This course is designed to help you practice the many ways you
can successfully use the ideas of others and appropriately document the sources. Your
instructor will answer any questions you may have about when and how to use any other
writer’s work, and the course will provide extensive instruction on acceptable citation and
documentation practices (APA).
Please note that this course seeks to help you gain greater independence as an academic
writer; thus, all writing and editing of your papers (beyond the assistance provided by your
instructor and your adviser) must be your own work. Acceptable collaboration with others
includes discussion of course readings, comparing ideas on how to approach the
assignments, peer critique of classmates’ papers, and assigned collaborative writing
activities.
Course Calendar (approximate)
Week 1:
Introduction to the course, survey, and diagnostic
What is academic writing? Myths. General types
Discussion on students’ aims and possible topics
An approach to academic writing . . . considerations: audience, purpose, organization, style,
flow, and presentation -- > positioning
Sample writing exercises
Main Text: Unit 1
Week 2:
Discussion on proposal writing and defending
Plagiarism
Proposal writing exercises, revisions and discussions
Material to be distributed
Week 3:
Types of Texts: General-Specific Texts
Writing exercises, revisions and discussions
Main Text: Unit 2
Supplementary Text 1: Chapter 3
Week 4 (chapter 3 continued, if needed):
Types of Texts: General-Specific Texts
Writing exercises, revisions and discussions
Main Text: Unit 2
Supplementary Text 1: Chapter 3
Week 5:
Types of Texts: Problem, Process-Solution Texts
Writing exercises, revisions and discussions
Main Text: Unit 3
Supplementary Text 1: Chapter 4
Week 6:
Types of Texts: Data Commentary
Writing exercises, revisions and discussions
Main Text: Unit 4
Supplementary Text 1: Chapter 7 & 8
Week 7:
Types of Texts: Summaries and Paraphrasing
Writing exercises, revisions and discussions
Main Text: Unit 5
Week 8:
Types of Texts: Writing Critiques and Reviews
Writing exercises, revisions and discussions
Main Text: Unit 6
Supplementary Text 2: Unit 4
Week 9:
Argumentation: Making a Claim and Supporting It
Claims, support, evidence, acknowledgements, warrants
Writing exercises, revisions and discussions
Supplementary Text 1: Part 3
Week 10:
Constructing a Research Paper 1
Main Text: Unit 7
Supplementary Text 1: Part 4
Week 11:
Constructing a Research Paper 2
Main Text: Unit 8
Supplementary Text 1: Part 4
Week 12:
Enduring Revision and Dealing with Problems
Supplementary Text 1: Chapter 17
Supplementary Text 2: Unit 6
Week 13:
Open
Week 14:
Other Types of Academic Communication
Paper Revisions and Discussions
Guidelines and Discussions about giving effective presentations/ Rules of public speaking
Student presentations
Main Text: Appendix 3
Supplementary Text 2: Units 7 & 8
Week 15:
Oral Presentations and Defense
Student presentations
Material to be distributed
Course schedule and meeting frequency may be altered or amended at the discretion of
the instructor and the needs of the students.