Introduction to Academic Writing

Description

Course Description:

This course provides an introduction to the principles and practices of academic writing. Students will learn to craft well-structured essays, develop arguments, conduct research, and adhere to academic conventions. Emphasis will be placed on clarity, coherence, and critical thinking.

Course Objectives:

• Understand the structure and purpose of academic writing.
• Develop skills in crafting thesis statements and arguments.
• Learn to organize and support ideas effectively.
• Practice writing different types of academic essays.
• Master citation styles and avoid plagiarism.
• Refine editing and proofreading skills.

Weekly Outline:

Week 1: Introduction to Academic Writing

• Overview of academic writing and its importance.
• Understanding the differences between academic and non-academic writing.
• Introduction to the writing process: prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing.
• Practice: Brainstorming and free writing exercises.

Week 2: Thesis Statements and Argument Development

• Crafting a clear and concise thesis statement.
• Developing and supporting arguments.
• Distinguishing between claims, evidence, and reasoning.
• Practice: Analyzing sample thesis statements and developing their own.

Week 3: Structuring an Academic Essay

• Understanding the basic structure of academic essays: introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Organizing paragraphs with clear topic sentences and transitions.
• Practice: Outlining and organizing an essay based on a given topic.

Week 4: Writing Introductions and Conclusions

• Techniques for writing effective introductions and conclusions.
• Hooking the reader and presenting the thesis in the introduction.
• Summarizing key points and restating the thesis in the conclusion.
• Practice: Drafting introductions and conclusions for various essay types.

Week 5: Paragraph Development and Unity

• Writing coherent and unified paragraphs.
• Using evidence, examples, and analysis to support topic sentences.
• Ensuring paragraph transitions and flow.
• Practice: Writing and revising paragraphs based on prompts.

Week 6: Research and Incorporating Sources

• Introduction to academic research: finding and evaluating sources.
• Integrating sources into academic writing (quoting, paraphrasing, and summarizing).
• Practice: Conducting research and incorporating sources into a draft.

Week 7: Citation Styles and Avoiding Plagiarism

• Overview of common citation styles (APA, MLA, Chicago).
• Understanding and applying in-text citations and references.
• Strategies for avoiding plagiarism and maintaining academic integrity.
• Practice: Formatting citations and references in a sample paper.

Week 8: Writing Literature Reviews

• Understanding the purpose and structure of a literature review.
• Synthesizing research findings and presenting an overview of the literature.
• Practice: Writing a literature review on a given topic.

Week 9: Argumentative Essays

• Developing a strong argumentative essay: presenting a clear position and counterarguments.
• Structuring arguments and rebuttals.
• Practice: Writing and revising an argumentative essay.

Week 10: Analytical Essays

• Understanding the purpose and structure of analytical essays.
• Analyzing texts, data, or case studies.
• Practice: Writing an analytical essay based on a given text or data set.

Week 11: Revising and Editing

• Techniques for revising and editing academic writing.
• Identifying common errors in grammar, punctuation, and style.
• Practice: Peer review and editing exercises.

Week 12: Final Projects and Presentations

• Finalizing and polishing academic essays.
• Preparing a presentation of the final project.
• Practice: Presenting research findings and receiving feedback.

Assessment Methods:

• Weekly writing assignments and exercises.
• Drafts and revisions of essays.
• Midterm essay focusing on a specific type of academic writing.
• Final project consisting of a researched and polished academic essay.
• Peer review participation and feedback.

Recommended Texts and Resources:

• Academic writing textbooks (e.g., The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, They Say / I Say by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein).
• Online resources and writing guides (e.g., Purdue OWL, citation style manuals).
• Access to academic journals and databases for research practice.

Final Project:

Students will select a topic of interest, conduct research, and write a comprehensive academic essay (e.g., argumentative, analytical, or literature review). The final project will be presented in class, allowing students to showcase their writing and research skills.

This outline provides a structured approach to learning academic writing, covering essential skills and practices while allowing for hands-on application and feedback.