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Program in Intensive English
Level 5C Writing
Summer 2011 Session Two
Instructor: Dongmei Cheng
Office: BAA 327
Class location: South Beaver 111
Office Hour: Wednesday 9:00-10:00
Class Time: MTTh 1:30-3:30, Fri 10:30-12:30
Contact: Dongmei.Cheng@nau.edu
Course Description:
This course is designed to improve your academic writing abilities. Students in this class will
regularly practice the processes of academic writing, which include planning, drafting, revising,
and editing. Throughout the five weeks, you will practice writing skills and strategies which will
prepare you to write academic papers for the English-speaking university environment.
Required Materials
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Oshima & Hogue. (2006). Introduction to Academic Writing. 3rd Edition. NY: Longman.
A 3-ring binder or double-pocket folder for course materials
Lined paper for in-class writing (8” X 11”)
A pencil, pen and highlighter
Access to a computer/laptop (with Microsoft Word installed) and a printer
Course Objectives
You will improve in the following areas:
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Organizing and developing your writing;
Using accurate and complex sentence structure;
Understanding the writing process;
Evaluating your writing and the writing process;
Peer evaluating;
Determining useful writing strategies for a task;
Incorporating content from several sources;
Writing for different purposes and audiences;
Producing long and complex pieces of writing; and
Making independent decisions about how to approach writing tasks.
Grading
A = 90-100 points
B = 80-89 points
C = 70-79 points
D = 60-69 points
F = 59 points or below
Total points = 100
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Essay Projects = 70 points (Essay 1=30 points, Essay 2=40 points)
Essay projects are made up of the following components which will be graded
individually:
o First Draft = 25%
o Self Evaluation = 5%
o Peer Review = 10%
o Second Draft = 25%
o Final Draft = 35%
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Other Assignments = 20 points
o In-class Writings = 15 points
o Homework = 5 points
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Attendance=5 points (missing no class=5 points; missing 1 class=4 points; missing 2
classes=3 points; missing 3 classes=2 points; missing 4 classes=1 points; missing more
than 4 classes=0 point)
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Class participation=5 points (Active participation in class discussion and activities=5
points; somewhat active participation=3 points; little participation=1 point)
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Late work: If you were absent for a class where there were in-class writing or other
assignments due, you can make up the work within 3 days. However, all late work will
be accepted with deducting 10% for each day it is late.
Policies
Attendance:
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The PIE expects students to attend class regularly and to complete all assignments on
time. Attendance, study, and practice are the keys to successful language learning. Your
immigration status depends on attendance.
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Please note: you must be in class and participating to be counted as attending; sleeping
in class counts as an absence. Sleeping in class is NOT acceptable in university
classrooms.
Late policy for all classes
If you are not present when class begins, then you will be marked “late.” For every 3 times you
are marked “late,” you will receive one absence.
Total number of classes missed:
If the total number of hours missed in all of your classes equals or exceeds 22 hours for full-time
students or 11 hours for part-time students, you will be dropped from the PIE program and will
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need to meet immediately with the International Student Advisor at the Center for International
Education (CIE) to discuss visa implications.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a type of cheating and includes copying from your friends, classmates, the
Internet, books, or any other source. Any student who cheats or plagiarizes during this class will
receive a zero on the assignment. The student will also be reported to the PIE director. If you
don’t know if you are plagiarizing, ASK before handing-in an assignment.
Student Conduct
We are glad you have joined our academic community. Now, you are expected to behave in
accordance with the standards set forth in the Student Code of Conduct. These standards,
along with sanctions for violation of these standards, can be found in the Student Handbook
(http://www4.nau.edu/stulife/handbook.htm) at the following website:
http://www4.nau.edu/stulife/handbookcode.htm
Use of Technology
Cellphone use is prohibited inside the classroom during class time. Electronic dictionaries and
laptops may be used with the instructor’s permission.
Important Dates
Tuesday, July 13
Friday, August 5
Tuesday, August 23
First day of Session 2
Last day of Session 2
PIE Placement exam, 8:00 am
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Assignment Schedule, Summer Session 2
Dates
Week 1
7/12-7/15
Tuesday
7/12
Thursday
7/14
Friday
7/15
Topic
Unit 1: Fluency Writing & Sentence
Structures & Essay Writing Basics
--Introduction of the course and students
--Sentence structure: Review of simple and
compound sentence structures
--Introduction of clauses and complex sentence
structures
--Fluency writing practice I
--Clauses and complex sentence structures:
Consolidation & Practice
--Fluency writing practice II
-- Review of essay writing basics: Writing
Process, Organization, Paraphrase & Summary,
Library Research, and Using quotations.
--Sentence structure overview and practice
--Transition signals: Review & Practice
--Fluency writing practice III
Homework Due
Reading: p.99-103
Complete Practice 3 (A, B, C
and D) on p.102-103.
Reading: p. 189-193
Week 2
7/18-7/22
Monday
7/18
Unit 2: Argumentative Essay—Part I
--Introduction of opinion essays
--Introduction of using quotations
--Essay One prompt, topic report &
brainstorming
Reading: p.168-176
Complete Practice 1 & 2.
Tuesday
7/19
--Sample Essay One (Discussion)
--Using quotations: Direct quote, paraphrase &
summary
--Essay One prewriting activities: clustering &
freewriting
--Essay One introduction and scratch outline
--Peer Review Workshop I: Essay One First
Draft
--Library research techniques (library research
report: Handout for homework)
--MLA/APA citation reviews
Reading: Sample Essay One
(handout)
Friday
7/22
--Sample Essay Two (Discussion)
--Exercise on integrating sources
--Essay One complete outline
--Grammar exercise (run-on/comma
splices/complex sentences)
Reading: Sample Essay Two
(handout)
Bring completed library
research report and copies of
sources to class.
Week 3
7/25-7/29
Unit 3: Argumentative Essay—Part II
Monday
7/25
--Peer Review Workshop II: Essay One Second
Draft
--Group conference: Discussing issues found in
Thursday
7/21
Essay One First Draft Due:
Minimum:
Three
Paragraphs=Introduction
+ Two body paragraphs
(Bring 3 hard copies)
Essay One Second Draft
Due: Complete draft
including introduction, all
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the peer review workshop
--Writing for fun (Games/Activities)
Tuesday
7/26
--Writing for fun (Games/Activities)
--Approaches to Argumentative Essays: Part I
(Top-down vs. bottom-up)
--Sample Essay Three Discussion
--Sentence structure exercise
Thursday
7/28
--Essay One Self-Evaluation
--Appositives & Adjective clauses: Introduction
--Appositives & Adjective clauses: Exercise
--Approaches to Argumentative Essays: Part II
(Rogerian Strategy)
Friday
7/29
--Essay Two prompt, topic report &
brainstorming
--Library research techniques (library research
report: Handout for homework)
--Essay Two prewriting activities: clustering &
freewriting & scratch outlining
Week 4
8/1-8/5
Monday
8/1
Unit 4: Argumentative Essay—Part III
--Review of integrating sources & quotation
usages
--MLA/APA citation reviews
--Peer Review Workshop I: Essay Two First
Draft
--Group Conference Sign-up
Tuesday
8/2
--Discussion/exercise on counterarguments &
rebuttals
--Group conference with the instructor
Thursday
8/4
--Peer Review Workshop II: Essay Two Second
Draft
--Group conference: Discussing issues found in
the peer review workshop
--Grammar Review
Friday
8/5
--Individual conference with the instructor
(optional)
--Turn in Essay Two final folder.
necessary body paragraphs
and conclusion.
(Bring 3 hard copies)
Reading: Sample Essay
Three (handout)
Essay One Complete Folder
Due in class.
Reading: p. 129-140
Complete Practice 2, 3, 4, 5 &
6.
Bring completed library
research report and copies of
sources to class.
Essay Two First Draft Due:
Minimum:
Three
Paragraphs=Introduction
+ Two body paragraphs
(Bring 3 hard copies)
Bring one copy of your
revised draft & 1st draft peer
review comments to the
individual conference.
Essay Two Second Draft
Due: Complete draft
including introduction, all
necessary body paragraphs
and conclusion.
(Bring 3 hard copies)
Essay Two Complete Folder
Due in class.