Khazar University
Course Syllabus
Academic Writing
Spring Semester 2013
Instructor: Samira Tajeddinova
Instructor: Samira Tajeddinova
E-mail:hajizadeh_samira@yahoo.com
Course Description
The primary aim of the course is to help students to acquire competence not only in writing
English but also in composing their own essays and writing assignments. This includes review of
the basics such as: the topic sentence in the beginning paragraph and goes on to more advanced
skills such as essay organization, summarizing and self-editing of the final work. For the sake of
variety the course will include reading, discussion and listening but the emphasis will be on daily
writing assignments and learning from corrections of their mistakes. The course improves
students’ writing abilities at a paragraph and essay level. They will learn how to write
Descriptive, Process, Narrative paragraphs, Example and Opinion Paragraphs by the midterm
and Comparison/ Contrast, Argumentative and Cause/Effects Essays by the end of the course.
Course Objectives
•
•
•
•
•
Help students improve their writing which involves not only the accurate use of
language but also the effective organization of information.
To enrich the vocabulary and cover all areas and language aspects that should be
known by a well-educated modern individual;
To enhance writing through reading
To improve speaking on different topics
To improve self and peer editing skills
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course students will
1) develop written communication skills that are needed in an academic environment. In
addition, students will develop critical reading skills, grammar skills, and will expand
vocabulary.
2) think ideas out for themselves and discipline their thoughts on paper, thus enabling
themselves to compare the ideas before writing with the results after writing.
3) develop what had been studied earlier at a paragraph level - generating ideas, organizing,
drafting, revising, and editing.
Learning Materials
1. Textbooks: 1)‘Introduction to Academic Writing and Reading,’ by George Bishop and James
A. Solan and 2) “Academic Writing” by Alice Osbima and Ann Hogue
2. Handouts, class notes, web pages and recommended reading (books, newspapers articles, and
short stories).
3. “Effective Academic Writing 2” by Alice Savage and Patricia Mayer
Assessment
10% Writing portfolio (5% -midterm, 5%-final)
20 % Class Participation and Home Studies (workshops, discussions and analyses of readings,
small grammar exercises and reading assignments, articles, reading extracts from magazines and
newspapers, letters, resumes, feedbacks on essays, job applications, essay revision and editing
process)- 10%-midterm, 10%-final
35% Midterm Exam
35% Final Exam
TOTAL:
100%
Course Requirements
Each student must fulfill the following requirements of the course.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Academic Writing is designed for students who are English majors or who have at least
attained an intermediate level of proficiency in the language.
Spend at least four hours per week on self-study. Self-study includes all assignments
given by the instructor.
Actively participate in classroom discussions by asking questions and giving their
comments or opinions whenever required by the instructor.
Conduct Internet and library research, revise class notes and handouts, study the
textbook, and perform all other activities as requested.
Any additional questions regarding the Course Outline and the course requirements can
be answered during the class, after the class, or by email.
The Course Outline is the main document of the course and the activities that are
included into the Course Outline must be performed in class every week.
Course Policies



Class participation: Attendance at all classes is mandatory. For each absence the student
will lose 2% from their participation grade. More than 5 unexcused absences will constitute
an immediate failure of the course. Arriving at class more than 10 minutes late will be
considered an absence. Free participation is discouraged.
Missed exams or assignments: An advance notification should be given in advance if the
student is unable to attend the scheduled presentation or test. Full class participation and
completion of assigned homework are necessary.
Academic Dishonesty: Any plagiarism while studying will be severely penalized (by a nonpass for the course). Reference should be given to the sources used in the work. However,
any research paper consisting of references and citations only, without further analysis by the
student, will not be acceptable either. Cheating during the tests will be penalized likewise.
Course Outline
Weeks
•
1
•
2
•
•
3
•
•
4
•
7
Descriptive paragraphs. Reading text ”Sari of the Gods”. Brainstorming and
outlining. Descriptive organization.
Developing your ideas. Using specific language. Editing your writing. Using
adjectives in Descriptive writing
Process paragraphs. Reading text “How to Fight Off a Shark”. Process
organization.
Using time order words in Process paragraphs. Modals of advice, necessity and
prohibition.
Narrative paragraphs. Reading Text “The Snake-man”. Narrative organization.
Using sensory and emotional details. Showing order of events in narrative
paragraphs. Showing simultaneous events. Forming and using the simple past
and past continuous.
•
Holiday
•
Opinion Paragraphs. Reading Text “City with the Grey-Green Heart”. Opinion
organization.
Using reasons to support an opinion
•
•
8
Stimulating ideas. The paragraph. Formatting a paragraph. Developing a
paragraph. Paragraph organization. Topic sentence. Supporting sentences. The
concluding sentence.
Unity and Coherence. Unity within a paragraph. Coherence within a paragraph.
Editing your writing. Simple sentence structure. Punctuation and
Capitalization. Fragments. Run-on sentences.
•
•
5
6
Tasks and Activities
Introduction to the course. Revision the basic strategies of the writing process.
Prewriting. Techniques for generating ideas. Basic writing difficulties.
•
•
9
•
Example paragraphs. Reading Text ”Bumping into Mr. Ravioli”. Example
organization.
Using examples as supporting details.
The structure of an essay. Understanding the purpose for and the characteristics
of the three parts of an essay- introduction, developmental paragraphs, and
conclusion.
Essay writing skills. Writing an outline of an essay. Coherence: transition
between paragraphs.
•
10
•
•
11
•
•
12
•
The Argumentative essay. Reading text “Wireless Bhutan’s Hills Are Alive
with Sound of Cell Phones”. Opinion organization.
Facts and opinions. Interpreting facts to support an opinion. Counter argument
and refutation.
Comparison and Contrast Essays. Reading Text “Learning about Differences».
Comparison and Contrast organization.
Comparison and Contrast connectors. Using comparatives in Comparison and
Contrast essays. Comparatives in sentences.
Cause and Effect essays. Reading Text “The Millionaire Next Door”. Cause
and effect organization. Clustering information.
Casual chains.
13 Students’ demo lessons
14 Students’ demo lessons
15 Preparation for the final exam
16 Preparation for the final exam