Week
1
Introduction
to Effective Academic and Professional Writing |
Course Overview
• Syllabus (Course Home on KU-ACE)
• Course
Overview (.ppt)
• Statement
of Understanding/Com (.doc)
• Final
Paper Requirements (Course Home on KU-ACE)
Introductions
- Name
- Program/time at Kaplan
- Something that isn't obvious about this person
Readings
Class Activities
- Difference between academic
and
personal writing
- Key terms:
- Rhetoric: the art of composing
effective discourse (exchange
of ideas, conversation)
- Argument: in
speech and writing, an
assertion made about
a topic that is supported
by at least one reason
- Persuasion: the
act of seeking to change
someone else’s
beliefs, actions, procedures,
etc.
- Counterargument: an
argument offered in opposition
to another argument (Yes,
but...)
- Informed opinion
(KU Handbook,
p. 5)
- Skim model
paper (pp. 224-235)
- Sources of ideas for topics
- Finding
a Topic
- Magazines
in the library
- Critical
conversations in your field
Homework
• Unit 1 Exercise (25 pts.) due in Dropbox before next
class (directions and model on KU-ACE,
Week 1; rubric in syllabus on Course
Home)
Content
covered in class today is also covered
in
“From
Topic to Research Questions to Thesis” (KU Handbook for
Writers, pp. 29–31).
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Week 2
Writing Styles & Library Orientation
(librarian visit) |
Review formal vs. informal writing
Speech activity: Carol Dweck—fixed vs. growth mindset
- Finding quality
sources (.ppt)
- What is the difference between a popular
and an academic
source?
- Kendalls, C. Should parents raise their
children without television? (2002-2010).
Available
from Helieum website:
http://m.www.helium.com/
items/711341-should-parents-raise-their-children-without-television
- Christakis,
D.
A., Zimmerman, F. J., DiGuisseppe,
D. L., & McCarty,
C. A. (2004, April). Early television
exposure and subsequent attentional
problems in children. Pediatrics,113(4).
Retrieved
from American Academy of Pediatrics website: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/
releases/tvapril.pdf
- How good are these sources?
Homework
- Do background
reading and start
looking for sources on
possible topic(s)
- Read: ”Critical Thinking—The
Ultimate Goal of Academic Writing” (KU
Handbook,
pp. 58–65)
- Have conference on topic, plan to
find sources
(10 pts)
- Take Grammar
diagnostic (10
pts)
Useful Resources
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Week
3
Critical
Thinking & Exploring Topics
|
Progress
Check
- Skim "Top
Ten Mistakes in Academic Research," The
KU Handbook for Writers, pp. 196-200.
- Meet with one to three other people and discuss these questions:
- What obstacles have you met
in your research?
- What are some ways to overcome
those obstacles?
- As a group, what are
your top tips for
research (list at
least three tips).
- As a group, choose at least one problem/solution to share
with the class.
Thinking Critically About Sources
Homework
Summarize your reading and thinking about your topic
so far.
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Week 4
Research Citations, Plagiarism, & the Formal
Research
Plan
|
Check topic exploration draft against common
errors checklist.
Preview research
plan assignment (100 points).
APA documentation
Homework Draft research plan
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Week 5
Continuing Research, Plagiarism,
& Prewriting
(Research
plan draft due at the beginning
of class; you cannot make
this up if you have not arranged
an extension in advance) |
Peer
edit Research
Plan (100 points)
Notetaking strategies
Practice activity
- Skim the explanation of how to use definitions in The KU Handbook for Writers, pp.
201-202.
- Write a paragraph that includes two tips about using definitions
in your papers.
- Cite anything you take from the text, with quotation
marks and a parenthetical
citation for anything taken word-for-word
and a parenthetical
citation for
tips put into your own words. For
your parenthetical citation, use
(VanDam & Tysick, 2008).
- Compare your version with the textbook. Look for places
where your version is too
close to the original in language or organization.
Add quotation
marks or use more of
your own words where necessary.
More practice: Paraphrasing
and Pompous Proverbs (ppt)
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Week 6
Intros, Conclusions, and Constructing the First Draft |
APA Review: Critique
model paper
(pp. 224–235)
Organizing Your Argument Paper
Overall structure
Paraphrasing practice:
Homework
Internet Resources
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Week 7
Constructive Collaboration & Peer Reviews
You will not
receive credit for your argument drafts unless
you have
- used parenthetical
citation
- provided a reference
list
- and properly cited
all material
taken from sources.
Drafts will not be accepted after Week 7 unless prior arrangements
have been made.
|
Register for a free TurnItIn
account
- use class ID 3357253 and enrollment password student
- submit a paper
- Check your Originality Report (see sample
report)
Integrating
Sources
Peer
edit draft of argument paper (85 points)
Plagiarism
Homework
- Revise draft
and hand in revised version
next week (250 points).
Review Resources
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Week 8
Reflection and Revision; Polishing the Final Paper
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Plagiarism Review
Why Spell Check Isn't Enough
Paramedic Method of Revision
Homework - Read "Protect Your R.E.P."
- Go to search.ebscohost.com
-
select Academic
Search Elite database
- search for Vassallo and protect
- read the article and identify two ways you can use
Vassallo's ideas
to revise your papers
(15 points)
- Polish final argument paper, if necessary.
- Prepare an abstract for
informal
presentation (20 points) next week
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Week
9
The Power of the Pen & The Key to Career Advancement
Informal presentations
|
Informal
Presentations:
Informally present results of research (choose executive
summary or fact
sheet) and turn in final revisions of any assignments.
Final Review
Revision exercises
Homework
Final
Exam (letter about what you learned in this
course)
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Week
10
Final Exam
Aug. 6, 10:00-11:45am
|
Final
Exam (letter about what you learned in this course)
Tools for continued progress
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