Syllabus

E82A

Written Communication I

Syllabus

English 82A Syllabus
Lincoln University
Written Communication I
Units: 3 Contact hours: 40

Semester: Summer 2008
Course Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Time: 1:00 – 3:45
Location: Room 402
Course Blogsite: http://4wcom.blogspot.com/
Course Wikisite: http://4wcom.wetpaint.com/

Dr. Sylvia Y. Rippel Schoemaker
Phone: 510.628.8036
Office: Room 305
Office Hours: T-T, 9:9:30, 12:15-1, and by arrangement
Email: drsylvia2008@gmail.com


Objectives:
You will develop your writing skills for academic, professional, and socio-cultural purposes, in context-centered essay writing.
You will learn editing, documentation skills, use of online and other resources.

University learner goals 1 -6, and specifically in English:: To develop basic academic and professional skills (1); To develop the ability to communicate effective in English, orally and in writing, and to read with understanding (1.1) and institutional goals , especially 1,(1.1-1.4), 2.4

Description:
English 82A covers the aspects of composing well-organized written communications. The core of the course will emphasize practice in organizing ideas in a clear, logical manner and other elements involved in writing papers in various rhetorical contexts.

Catalog Description: ENG 82A & 82B - WRITTEN COMMUNICATION I & II ENG 82A & 82B - WRITTEN COMMUNICATION I & II First term: A thorough study of grammar and the fundamentals of composition. Practice in writing themes, book reviews and other short papers is given. Particular attention is directed toward sentence structure, syntax, and general rhetorical principles. Second term: Critical reading and evaluation of selected texts and writings; composition of well-organized expository papers; a careful consideration of methods of research, organization in a clear, logical manner and other elements involved in writing research papers. (3 + 3 units)

Course Materials:
Required Text:
VanderMey et al. The College Writer, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007.

ISBN: 0 618 74253 0

Recommended Texts:
Clouse, Barbara Fine. A Troubleshooting Guide for Writers: Strategies & Process.4th Ed. Boston: Mc-Graw-Hill, 2005.

Adams, Katherine H. and Michael L. Keene, Research and Writing across the Disciples 2nd Ed. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield Publishing Company, 2000.

A comprehensive, current English dictionary and thesaurus

Format
A cooperative learning model will be employed. Small group and individual discovery exercises and presentations will augment lectures, discussion and applications.

Student Responsibilities:
Students are expected to attend class, to complete assignments, to participate in the course in a productive manner, and to take personal responsibility for meeting the objectives of the course.

Evaluation:
Essays, assignments, exercises, class participation, notebooks, midterm and final presentations, extra credit work/journals will be averaged in determining the final grade in the following proportions:

Policies:
Assignments are to be submitted in a timely manner. Late work will receive reduced points and must be accompanied with a written explanation for its tardiness. Plagiarized work will receive 0 points, and if persistent will result in course failure. All assignments must be typed, include in the top right hand corner your name, course, date submitted, assignment name and revision number. Attendance is mandatory. Missed classes will constitute 0 points for the day’s class participation points. Excused absences are limited to serious medical or other problems, and are to be explained in writing either before or immediately after the absence. Persistent unexcused absences will result in course failure.

Assignments:
Overall Schedule Units, 2 to 3 sessions each (see schedule ),

Midterm and final portfolios, session 7 and 14, including essays for each unit, notes, reference data, in-class materials and assignments.

Grading:
Essays: 40 percent
Homework/in-class writing: 30 percent
Presentations/Participation: 30 percent

Session	Date	Topic / Assignments	Rhetoric	Reader	Handbook
1	Tuesday, June 10, 2008	Introduction Unit I Narrative and Descriptive Writing	1, Critical Thinking and Reading	9, Personal Narrative	35, Marking Punctuation
2	Thursday, June 12, 2008	Reading and Thinking	2, Getting Started	10, Personal Reflection	36, Checking Mechanics
3	Tuesday, June 17, 2008	Writing Process Introductions Paper Due	3, Planning	11, Personal Description	Multilingual and ESL Guidelines
4	Thursday, June 19, 2008	Writing and Rewriting	4, Drafting
5	Tuesday, June 24, 2008	Narrative and Descriptive Writing	5, Revising 6, Editing and Proofreading		Parts of Speech
6	Thursday, June 26, 2008	Unit I Narrative and Descriptive Paper Due Analytical Writing	7, Submitting	12, Cause and Effect	Parts of Speech
7	Tuesday, July 01, 2008	Comparison and contrast MIDTERM	8, One Writer’s Process.	13, Comparison and Contrast	Sentence Basics
8	Thursday, July 03, 2008	Narrative and Descriptive Paper Due Classification		14, Classification	Sentence Problems
9	Tuesday, July 08, 2008	Portfolio I Due Process		15, Process Writing
10	Thursday, July 10, 2008	Definition		16, Definition	Numbers, Word Parts, and Idioms
		Vocabulary and writing			Using the Right Word
11	Tuesday, July 15, 2008	Unit II Analytical Paper Due Persuasive Writing Rhetoric of Persuasion		17, Strategies for Argumentation and Persuasion	Understanding Grammar
12	Thursday, July 17, 2008	Defining a point of view		19, Persuading Readers to Act	39, Constructing sentences
13	Tuesday, July 22, 2008	Responding to an argument		20, Arguing Against a Claim	40, Avoiding Sentence Errors
14	Thursday, July 24, 2008	Unit III Persuasive Paper Due Portfolio II Final Exam