University of Waterloo
Department of English
ENGL 109
Introduction to Academic Writing
Winter 2020
EV3 3408
Monday-Wednesday: 11:30AM - 12:50AM
Instructor: Ayesha Altaher
Office: PAS 2224
Office Hours: Wednesday 1:00-2:00 (or by appointment)
Email: a2altahe@uwaterloo.ca
Course Description:
The purpose of English 109 is to help you develop your abilities as a writer. I will help you to think critically and communicate effectively. You will learn and practice a variety of strategies for inventing, drafting, and editing texts written in different genres and for different audiences.
Through this work, you will learn ways to adapt your writing to different situations, so that you can more effectively and more powerfully communicate. This course will prepare you to succeed throughout your academic career, regardless of your discipline.
To facilitate this learning, I will assign reading and writing assignments that will ask you to study and reflect on personal, academic, and civic contexts. You will be encouraged to think critically about your place in the world and the ways you can best negotiate it as a writer and reader.
In addition, because I value learning as a social activity, and thus recognize that writers and readers learn from one another, much of your work in English 109 will involve different kinds of collaboration, including small group workshops and discussions.
Finally, I believe that writing is an important process that takes place over time. So you will have a chance to revise your work many times before submitting the final draft. How can you succeed? Work hard, revise your writing as much as you possibly can, come to me for help, help your peers (and learn from that process), take risks, and be original.
Course Goals and Learning Outcomes
English 109 is designed to:
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To help you to think critically and communicate effectively
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To give you the chance to learn and practice a variety of strategies for inventing, drafting, and editing texts
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To give you the opportunity to learn and practice writing in a variety of academic genres
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To help you learn to read critically
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To help you learn to write persuasively by effectively employing elements of formal argumentation
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To help you give and receive useful feedback on writing for the purposes of revision
- To help you learn and practice communicating to a variety of academic audiences.
Required Text
Ruskiewicz, John and Jay Dolmage. How To Write Anything: A Guide and Reference with Readings, 4th Edition. Boston: Bedford St. Martin’s Press.
Course Requirements and Assessment
Overview of assignments:
Argument Essay 20%: Write a four-page argument essay. Choose from the option on page 119.
Presentation 15%: Come up with a list of local services or institutions to evaluate and provide a comparison.
Evaluation Essay 21%: Write a four-page evaluation essay. Choose from the options on page 143
Literary Analyses Essay 20%: Write a five-page literary analyses on a text that you choose
Below you will find a detailed breakdown of assignments, their due date and their weight.
| Assessment |
Due date |
Weight |
|---|---|---|
|
Participation and attendance |
This mark is composed of your in-class participation as well as several in-class activities and homework assignments that you are required to complete before class. This includes, but is not limited to:
|
25% |
|
Argument Essay |
January 29th |
20% |
|
Presentations on “Local” Evaluations (Evaluation) |
February 4th |
15% |
|
Evaluation Essay |
March 2nd |
20% |
|
Literary Analyses Essay |
April 2nd |
20% |
There will be no exam in this class.
The following schedule is tentative and likely to change. It is provided here in a detailed form to help you plan your semester and to help you understand the class. Please expect the schedule to change.
| Topic | Class 1 | Class 2 |
|---|---|---|
|
January 6th |
January 8th |
|
|
Arguments |
Go over Syllabus |
Class Activities: Assign argument ------------------------------------------------ Homework: Read Chapter 10, Arguments; Read Argenti (p. 672); Come up with some topic ideas |
|
January 13th |
January 15th |
|
|
Arguments |
Class Activities: Discuss Chapter 10—focus on Claiming a Topic and Imagining Your Audience Discuss Chapter 27, Shaping a Thesis Activity: Taking a Side Discuss topic ideas Discuss Argenti ----------------------------------------- Homework: Read Chapter 26, Critical Thinking; Read Wise (p. 677); Create a claim for an argument |
Class Activities: Discuss Wise Discuss claims Activity: Multivocal Arguments Discuss Chapter 10—focus on Gathering Materials Discuss Part 7, Academic Research and Sources ------------------------------------------------ Homework: Conduct research; Complete research worksheet; Create an introductory paragraph and outline for essay |
|
January 20th |
January 22nd |
|
|
Arguments |
No class |
Class Activities: Discuss research |
|
Discuss introductory paragraphs and outlines Discuss Chapter 10—focus on Organizing Ideas and Choosing Style and Design Due Today: Research Worksheet and Introductory Paragraph and Outline ----------------------------------------- Homework: Draft essay; Read Chapter 31, Peer Editing |
||
|
January 27th |
January 29th |
|
|
Arguments Evaluations |
Class Activities: Peer review Discuss Chapter 37, Strategic Transitions, and Chapter 38, Memorable Openings and Closings Due Today: Rough Draft for Peer Review ---------------------------------------- Homework: Revise; Read Chapter 30, Revising, Editing, and Proofreading |
Due Today: Argument Essay Class Activities: Assign evaluation Activity: Still-Life Writing Discuss Chapter 28, Strategies of Development Activity: Go Local ------------------------------------------------ Homework: Read Chapter 11, Evaluations; Read Martinez (p. 141) and Giller (p. 137); Read the Introduction and Chapter 48, Annotating Sources |
|
February 3rd |
February 5th |
|
|
Evaluations |
Class Activities: Discuss Chapter 11, Evaluations Discuss Martinez and Giller Discuss the Introduction and Chapter 48, Annotating Sources |
Class Activities: Due Today: Presentations on “Local” Evaluations |
|
Activity: American Idol Activity: Working with Predictable Structures Discuss Chapter 27, Shaping a Thesis ---------------------------------------- Homework: Conduct an evaluation of one of the items you brainstormed in the activity Go Local |
||
|
February 10th |
February 12th |
|
|
Evaluations |
Class Activities: Due Today: Presentations on “Local” Evaluations |
Class Activities: Due Today: Presentations on “Local” Evaluations ------------------------------------------------ Homework: Choose text to evaluate; Read Chapter 49, Summarizing Sources, Chapter 50, Paraphrasing Sources, and Chapter 52, Documenting Sources |
|
February 17th |
February 19th |
|
|
Family day- no class |
Reading Week- No class |
|
|
February 24th |
February 26th |
|
|
Evaluations |
Class Activities: Discuss Chapters 49, 50, and 52 Share texts Due Today: Bring Text to Class ---------------------------------------- Homework: Draft your evaluation; Read Part 5, Style; Read Chapter 31, Peer Editing |
Class Activities: Peer review ------------------------------------------------ Homework: Revise essay; Read Chapter 30, Revising, Editing, and Proofreading |
|
March 23rd |
March 25th |
|
|
Literary Analyses |
Writing workshop |
One-on-one conferences with instructor |
|
March 30th |
April 1st |
|
|
Literary Analyses |
One-on-one conferences with instructor |
One-on-one conferences with instructor |
|
April 6th |
||
|
Return essays- answer any questions |
Late Work
Late papers (major assignments) will be penalized 5% per day late. All major papers must be completed – you will fail the class if any of the major papers is not completed and submitted, however late. You must also complete all other reading and writing assignments on time. Short-writing submitted late will receive a zero. Check syllabus for all due dates.
Attendance Policy
You must attend all classes. Attendance will be taken at all class sessions. Students who miss more than two classes are in danger of a failing participation grade. Always bring your course book How To Write Anything to both lectures and workshops.
Academic Honesty
All students registered in courses in the Faculty of Arts are expected to know what constitutes an academic offence, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for their academic actions. When the commission of an offence is established, disciplinary penalties will be imposed in accord with Policy #71 (Student Academic Discipline). For information on categories of offences and types of penalties, students are directed to consult the summary of Policy #71 which is supplied in the Undergraduate Calendar (on the Web athttp://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infoucal/UW/policy_71.html).
If you need help in learning how to avoid offences such as plagiarism, cheating, and double submission, or if you need clarification of aspects of the discipline policy, ask your course instructor for guidance. Other resources regarding the discipline policy are your academic advisor and the Undergraduate Associate Dean. Students seeking guidance on academic honesty are urged consult the following page of the Arts Faculty Web site, “How to Avoid Plagiarism and Other Written Offences: A Guide for Students and Instructors” (http://watarts.uwaterloo.ca/~sager/plagiarism.html).
Plagiarism or copying other people’s style or ideas and claiming them as your own is a serious academic offense. Any incident of plagiarism will automatically cause a paper to fail, could cause you to fail the course, and will be reported to the Dean’s office. For each major assignment you submit, you will also sign and submit an “Academic Honesty Contract” (see page 11).
Procedural Basics
Word process all written assignments (except for in-class work, of course).
Use MLA format for all written work (see HTWA for guidelines): Times New Roman, 12pt. Font, 1 inch margins, numbered pages, and so on.
Keep copies of all your work, as hard copy and electronically.
When we will be peer-reviewing writing in class, you are expected to bring 4 copies of your essay to class with you.
Please try to print double-sided, or print on the back of already-used paper. Just be sure your writing is not obscured in any way.
Save multiple versions of all work. If you make changes to an essay, save the file under a new name. This will allow you to view the development of your work between drafts, show this development to your teachers, and reflect on it.
Save everything. Save peer review comments, notes from conferences, pre-writing, all in- class work, and every draft of your essays, with teacher comments.
Classroom Etiquette:
We want the classroom environment to be a positive one for everyone. Together we will create a space that promotes mutual respect, positive discussions, the free exchange of ideas, and the productive use of time. No cell phone use in class – if you have it with you, turn it off and put it away. You are invited and encouraged to use laptops when and if you need to.
Rights and Responsibilities
Every member of this class—instructor as well as students—has rights and responsibilities to ensure a pleasant and productive experience for all. We are all answerable to University policies governing ethical behaviour (Policy 33) and academic integrity (Policy 71), as well as to those outlining grievance or dispute procedures (Policy 70). Here are some more specific expectations for this course:
Students will:
-
be familiar with the university policies that govern their behaviour
-
attend all scheduled classes and arrive prepared: with assigned reading and writing completed
-
be active participants in their own learning, and respect the rights of others to learn
- give thoughtful consideration to instructor feedback on written and oral work
Instructor will:
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be familiar with the university policies that govern their behaviour
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attend all scheduled lectures and tutorials
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be available for consultation in person and over email as per stated policies
-
return short assignments within one week, and longer assignments within 2 weeks
- provide helpful and respectful feedback on student work
Response and Evaluation
You will write three major essays in this class, and this work will represent the bulk of your course grade. You will receive comments on your papers to give you a sense of what you need to focus on in future assignments.
Participation is assessed based not only on attendance, but also on your investment in class activities and discussion, and your ability to respect and work well with others. You are expected to write a lot, and to engage in group-work and discussions.
There are a variety of ways to participate in this class, and they include:
-traditional modes, like volunteering to talk in class, ask questions, or provide opinions and ideas
-offering examples of writing and communication, or of texts for analysis, either by volunteering in class, or by emailing this example to me so I can share it
-asking me question by email – a question that I can address in class, and that will help all students
-offering feedback to your peers on their ideas and their writing in a respectful and constructive manner
-taking part in small groups and being an active and engaged listener
-taking notes that can be shared with classmates when we cover a difficult concept or idea; or taking notes that can be shared with classmates who might need to miss class
-contributing ideas and questions to me via email if you need to miss class yourself; or offering to review the work of peers via email if you need to miss class
Course Concerns
If you are experiencing problems with the course or with the marking, you should first discuss your difficulties with me. Students who believe that they have been wrongfully or unjustly treated or penalized have the right to grieve; refer to Policy #70, Student Grievance: http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.html.
A decision made or penalty imposed under Policy 70 (Student Petitions and Grievances) (other than a petition) or Policy 71 (Student Discipline) may be appealed if there is aground. A student who believes he/she has a ground for an appeal should refer to Policy 72 (Student Appeals)http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy72.htm
Accommodations
We will all need some accommodations in this class, because we all learn differently. If you need specific accommodations, let me know. I will make an effort to ensure that all
students have multiple means of accessing class information, multiple ways to take part in class activities, and multiple avenues for being assessed on class work. The University of Waterloo has a long-standing commitment to support the participation and access to university programs, services, and facilities by persons with all types of disabilities. All students who have a permanent disability as well as those with temporary disabilities have the right to what UW calls “AccessAbility Services.” To register for these services, you must provide documentation from a qualified professional to verify your disability. Please contact them at 519-888-4567 ext. 35082 or drop into Needles Hall 1132 to book an appointment to meet with an advisor to discuss their services and supports.
Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity: In order to maintain a culture of academic integrity, members of the University of Waterloo are expected to promote honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility. See the UWaterloo Academic Integrity webpage and the Arts Academic Integrity webpage for more information.
Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offences, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offence, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offences (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline. For typical penalties check Guidelines for the Assessment of Penalties.
Grievance: A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievance. Section 4. When in doubt, please be certain to contact the department’s administrative assistant who will provide further assistance.
Appeals: A decision made or penalty imposed under Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances (other than a petition) or Policy 71 - Student Discipline may be appealed if there is a ground. A student who believes he/she has a ground for an appeal should refer to Policy 72 - Student Appeals.