Writing 0500A: Preparation for Academic Reading and Writing
Spring, 2013: MWF 100-150
UH C620
Instructor:
Phone:
Email:
Office:
Rebekah Eckert, M.Div., B.A.
403-382-7172
rebekah.eckert@uleth.ca
UH D532
Course Description:
Reading and writing in an academic style are essential for success at the university. Writing 500
will deepen your understanding and skills in academic writing. We will further your
comprehension of persuasive writing, practice writing conventions, develop your citation
practices, and increase your ability to write research papers. Learning activities will focus on the
practical skills necessary for functioning in university level courses. Short assignments will be
worked through in class to ensure your ability to use these skills on an ongoing basis. Lectures,
quizzes, and longer writing assignments will round out our course.
Required Texts:
Messenger, de Bruyn, Brown & Montagnes. (2012). The Canadian
Writer’s Handbook, Essentials Edition. Don Mills, ON: Oxford.
Evaluation Criteria:
Why write? assignment
5%
Assignments geared to giving you the tools to write well:
 Grammar quiz
10%
 Joke grammar assignment
10%
 Citation quiz
10%
 Tailored grammar assignment
10%
Assignments geared to developing your final paper:
 Summary assignment #1
15%
 Summary assignment #2
15%
 Research paper worksheet
5%
 Research paper
20%
Grading:
Grades will be given as a fraction: the marks you gained out of the total percent given for the
assignment (e.g. x/10 if the assignment is weighted 10%). Your final percentage will be
computed into a letter grade as noted below.
A+
90-100
B+
77-79
C+
67-69
D+
55-59
A
85-89
B
74-76
C
64-66
D
50-55
A80-84
B70-73
C60-63
F
0-49
Course Schedule:
Unit A: Summary
o Introduction: Course overview, Why write?
o Genres and academic writing characteristics
o Summary and reporting expressions
Unit B: Grammar
o What is a sentence?
o Periods, semi-colons, colons, commas
o Comma splices, fused sentences, and sentence fragments
o Apostrophes, capitalization and quotation marks
Unit C: Citation
o Paraphrase, summary, quote, common knowledge
o Citation – in text
o References
o Metacommentary: transitions, quotation families
Unit D: Research papers
o Academic sources
o The knowledge deficit
o Patterns of development in whole papers
o Acknowledging research: introductions and conclusions
Unit E: Analysis & Persuasion
o The thesis
o Patterns of development in paragraphs
o Paragraph development: unity, coherence, development
o Elements of persuasive arguments: assertions, evidence, tone, assumptions
o Organization of persuasive arguments
Guidelines and Expectations
I welcome your comments and suggestions. Please also let me know if you have questions or are
confused about any element of the course. I am available to meet during my office hours or by
appointment. Please talk to me whether it be a serious crisis, or an ongoing difficulty; together,
we may be able to devise a plan so it does not interfere with your academic success.
Your attendance is expected in the course; you should attend each class session. If you know
you will be absent in advance of class, please inform me. If you miss a class or several classes,
please communicate with me, not simply to provide an excuse, but also so that we can find a way
for you to catch up with the rest of the class. Students are responsible for course material even
when absent.
Students should review the assigned readings in advance. Students are expected to respect others'
opinions and learning needs in the classroom environment. To that end, cell phones should not
be answered while in class; if it is an emergency, please leave the class to answer. While the
course outline remains our guide, revisions will occur as necessary. If major disruptions occur,
all assignments will be due at or later than the date given.
Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. Plagiarized work will result in a grade of “F” for the
assignment and can result in failure of the course as well as academic suspension or expulsion.
According to university regulations, a letter indicating that the student has committed plagiarism
on an assignment or cheated on an exam will be automatically submitted to the Dean's Office.
Students should familiarize themselves with the “Academic Regulations, Policies, and Program
Requirements” section of the current University of Lethbridge Calendar.
Extensions may be arranged with official medical documentation or funeral information.
Students should contact me as soon as possible should a serious illness or major crisis occur. All
assignments as noted on the syllabus must be completed to pass the course.