IRE 103
Expository (Academic) Writing (2015-2016 Fall)
(Working Copy, Subject to Change, 28 September 2015)
Prerequisites: None
Instructor: Alper Çakmak
Special Requirements: None
Office: To be announced
E-mail: acakmak@ssu.edu.tr
Course Objectives
1. This course emphasizes substantial listening, intensive reading, careful analysis of texts
2.
3.
4.
5.
(reading & writing) written in advanced English level.
Critically discussing and analyzing series of key departmental issues.
Enabling the students to understand and analyze a text, being able to acquire and implement
the rules while writing an academic essay.
Providing the students with the theoretical background and analytical tools to render their own
academic writings.
Analyzing the basic structures of an academic essay and being able to implement them.
Learning Outcome
This course aims to improve students’ ability to write clearly, uniformly, and comprehensively in
English. At the end of this course, students will be able to create and defend an argument, as well as
compare and contrast ideas with descriptive writing. By the end of the course, each member of our
section will be able to form a thesis statement, conduct library research, and write a well-argued
research paper with points of analysis.
GRADING POLICY and ATTENDANCE
Attendance: Compulsory (70% of the class time; those who attend less than %70 of the classes will
fail the course since you need to attend at least 70% of the courses to turn in your Research
Paper). Those who do not submit any ASSIGNMENT will automatically fail !
Grading Policy: %20 First Research Paper, %40 Final Research Paper (%20 Revision of First Draft) ,
30% written assignments, %10 Active Participation
Weekly Reaction Papers
For each two weeks, every student must bring me a short written reaction paper (For each week, it
will be announced beforehand ) that answers the following five questions for each required
reading:
1) Sum up the most important argument of the reading. What major point is the author trying to make?
(three sentence).
2) Give one major NEGATIVE critique of the reading, in one sentence.
3) What is a new point for you ?/ If you want to learn more about this subject what would you like to
learn ?
4) Please find another article about the subject that improves/contributes to your criticism. (Please
don’t forget to give reference to the article that you have found)
5) If this article was presented in a seminar or a conference, which questions would you ask ? Why ?
Each Reaction Paper will be ONE FULL PAGE at least.
Participation in Class Discussion
Because this is a course based upon reading at home, discussion in the classroom and learning/writing
academic essays in a recognized style (APSA or MLA), active participation is essential. We expect
each person to have assigned selections ready for every week for discussion. Vigorous classroom
participation is essential to making the course a success.
Everyone is expected to be present and to participate in discussions. If you wish to be a member of the
community of scholars, you incur obligations to listen to others and to help build on their ideas.
Arrive on time and do not skip classes. Come prepared to join the conversation.
Always bring the readings to class. We will make frequent reference to them.
Take - Home Exam (Research Paper)
You are required to write two research papers on the course topics of POLS 101, which accounts for
60% of your final grade. You must select one of the topics provided by Lecturer Oğuz Uras.
Make sure that your papers have a minimum of summary, are clearly argued, and do not wander from
one unrelated point to the next. Most importantly, let me know in the introductory paragraph what
your chosen focus is, how you are going to analyze it, and what your main argument will be. Spelling,
grammar, and style count. Include a complete bibliography.
Your research paper should be at least 1000 words, double-spaced, with reasonable margins and in 12point font.
If you are preparing for an academic career, I encourage you to strive for the highest quality paper
possible.
I will not grade late papers.
NOTE: Evaluation criteria of your FINAL / MIDTERM research paper will be different for
each course. Lecturer Oğuz URAS (POLS101) will focus on the content of the material, while I
(IRE103) will be dealing mostly with the structure.
Turn in assignments in their proper format and on time. Format is a negative area to lose points on.
Look at the sample papers and follow their notation style, font, and layout.
If you are having problems with resetting spell check to American English for your assignments,
please seek out one of your classmates or one of our campus IT staff to fix it. Not following formatting
and spelling conventions looks sloppy and unprofessional.
For every day after a due date, I’ll subtract 10 points from your original grade. Losing points due to
turning things in late is another negative way to kill your grade.
Be responsible by making sure that all parts of an assignment are present. (Thesis Statement,
Anotated Bibliography, 1st Draft, 2nd draft, revision, peer-review, editing and references)
Class Schedule and Assignments:
Week 1
28 September-2 October
Wednesday
Introduction to approach and methods for Expository Writing
The Writing Process: On brainstorming, planning, thinking critically, drafting, and revising.
HW: Reading for the next week: Strunk, William, Jr. and E.B. White, “Elementary Principles of
Composition.” In the elements of Style, 15-33, New York: Longman, 1999.
Week 2
5-9 October
Wednesday
The Writing Process II
Intro to analyzing a text (A history of Modern Middle East)
On writing a reaction paper
Reading: “Shitty first drafts,” Bird by Bird
HW: Assignment 1 Due Next Week (12-16 October) Reflection Paper on Shitty First Drafts:
Week 3
12-16 October
Screening of “How schools kill creativity”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY
In class reflection paper (turn in at the end of class)
APSA chart
Week 4
19-23 October
Wednesday
Library Visit
Creating an annotated bibliography
Arguments and Analysis: How to make an argument
Discussion of Reading
HW: Read: Pinker,Steven. “Mind Over Mass Media.” In 40 Model Essays: A Portable Anthology,
edited by Jane E. Aaron and Ellen Kuhl Repetto, 293-295, Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2013.
Thesis Statement due for next week (for POLS 101 Lecturer Oğuz Uras)
Reflection Paper on “Mind Over Mass Media” due for next week.
Week 5
26-30 October
Wednesday
Reflection Paper Activity-Peer Review.
On note-taking strategies “How Schools Kill Creativity”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY
Intro. to Film Analysis.
What is “Outline”?
HW: Read: Mazower, Mark. “Conquest, 1430.” In Salonica, City of Ghosts: Christians, Muslims
and Jews 1430-1950, 15-30, London: Harper, 2005.
HW: Bibliography + Outline of the First Research Paper + Introduction Paragraph due for next
week. For the next week please bring your laptops with you. Make sure that your paper on
POLS 101 is in it.
Week 6
March 1-4 November
Wednesday
In Class Screening: Charlie Chaplin: Modern Times
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfw0KapQ3qw
In class writing of formal reflection.
First Draft of your Research Paper I (POLS 101) due next week.
Week 7
1-11 November
Wednesday
Feedback-Peer Review-Revision
How to create “Clusters of Thinking”.
HW: Bring your Research Papers to class to be reviewed by Alper Çakmak
Week 8
Day 16-20 November
Wednesday
On plagiarism.
On APSA Style.
Study of APSA and MLA formats for the first drafts.
Writing/Study/Feedback on the First Draft of POLS 101 Research Paper I.
HW: Full & Last Draft of Research Paper (POLS 101) due 30 November-4 December (Not only
to Alper Hoca but also to Oğuz Hoca)
Week 9
23-27 November
Midterm Exam Week
Week 10
30 November-4 December
Wednesday
Discussion of Alexandria: British Years.
On citations.
HW: Introduction (with the Thesis Statement Underlined) due for next week Final Research
Paper ( for POLS 101 Lecturer Oğuz Uras)
Week 11
7-11 December
Discussion of “Introduction”.
Read: Mazower, Mark. “Introduction.” In Salonica, City of Ghosts: Christians, Muslims and Jews
1430-1950, 1-12. London: Harper 2005.
Bibliography + Outline of the Final Research Paper + Introduction Paragraph due for next week.
For the next week please bring your laptops with you. Make sure that your paper on POLS 101
is in it.
Week 12
14-18 December
Wednesday
Peer Review-Feedback
Writing Tune-up
“Damsel in Distress” short video screening and in class writing activity.
HW: Full draft of (Final) Research Paper (POLS 101) due for next week.
For the next week please bring your laptops with you. Make sure that your paper on POLS 101
is in it.
Reflection Paper on “Damsel in Distress” due next week
Week 13
21-25 December
Wednesday
Feedback +Writing &Revising Final Research Paper in Class.
Week 14
30 December
Wednesday
Wrap-up/ Last Feedback on your Final Research Paper
HW: Please note that you are going to give a copy of your Final Paper both to Alper Hoca and
Oğuz Hoca.
Recommended Resources:
Brundage, Anthony. Going to the Sources: A Guide To Historical Research and Writing.
Wheeling, IL: Harlan Davidson, 2008.
Burke, Peter. Eyewitnessing: The Uses of Images as Historical Evidence. Ithaca, NY: Cornell,
2001.
Cullen, Jım. Essaying the Past: How to Read, Write, and Think about History. Great Britain:
Wiley-Blackwell, 2009.
McDowell, W. H. Historical Research: A Guide. Great Britain: Pearson, 2002.
Academic misconduct
Academic misconduct will not be tolerated. Examples of misconduct include violating rules stated in
this syllabus, cheating, plagiarism (please learn in detail and precisely what amounts to plagiarism; not
knowing is not an excuse), and dishonesty. All of the work you hand in within this course is expected
to be your own. Cheating or plagiarism is an insult to me, your peers, and yourself; it is not to be
tolerated and will be penalized with FF. Moreover, instances of cheating and plagiarism will be
handled according to the University disciplinary rules.