Writing and Grammar Level 5

ELTA-051-002
Fall 2016

Class Meetings: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays 9:45 - 11 am

Location: SVB 534
Instructor: Alice Kim
Contact Information: kkim@american.edu

Office Hours: Tuesdays, 11 am - 12 pm (email to confirm appointment); SVB 403

Course Description
This course develops students academic writing skills with a particular focus on how written academic essays
can be used to develop a short research paper. Students will build on their previous essay writing skills,
incorporating complex grammatical structures and using different rhetorical genres such as classification,
definition, problem/solution, and compare/contrast to increase the sophistication of their writing. Students
engage in all aspects of the writing process, including peer review workshops, and learn the value of feedback
and revision. In addition, students analyze and address the typical grammatical trouble spots for non-native
speakers with a particular focus on tone, hedging and boosting. Throughout the semester, students pay close
attention to the norms of academic integrity and the issue of plagiarism as they research and document their
work.

Course Goals
By the end of the semester, students will:
Write for an academic audience, applying a variety of sophisticated grammatical structures to clarify
both the textual and interpersonal meaning of a text to include hedging, boosting and nominalization.
Write clear and cohesive essays on a variety of topics using classification, definition, problem/solution,
and compare/contrast organizational styles.
Demonstrate the ability to accurately interpret and appropriately respond to writing prompts during
timed writing tasks.
Learn to develop a strong arguable thesis.
Identify and use appropriate writing genres to organize, develop and support an argument for a research
paper.
Evaluate and document their research.
Maintain a journal that includes weekly writing assignments and an editing log.
Use published articles as models for their own writing.

Required Course Texts

Meyers, A. (2014). Longman academic writing series 5: Essays to Research Papers. White Plains, NY: Pearson
Longman.

Cain, Joyce C. (2012). Grammar for Writing 2. White Plains, NY: Pearson Longman.

Other materials will be accessed via the Internet or made available on Blackboard as needed.
Students with Disabilities
If you wish to receive accommodations for a disability, please notify me with a letter from the Academic
Support and Access Center. As accommodations are not retroactive, timely notification at the beginning of the
semester, if possible, is requested.

Academic Support and Access Center

In addition to meeting with me and using the resources available in this department, all students may take
advantage of the Academic Support and Access Center for individual academic counseling, skills workshops,
tutor referrals, supplemental instruction, and writing appointments.
Location MGC 243 Email asac@american.edu Phone 202-885-3360 Website -http://
www.american.edu/ocl/asac/index.cfm

Religious Observances
American University recognizes the right of each student to practice the religion of his or her choice. Members
of the Faculty have been encouraged not to schedule exams or assignments on religious holy days. Students
must provide notification if they will be unable to attend class due to religious observances. For more
information, please see:http://www.american.edu/ocl/kay/About-Us-Religious-Holy-Days-Policy.cfm

Emergency Preparedness
In the event of a declared pandemic (influenza or other communicable disease), American University will
implement a plan for meeting the needs of all members of the university community. Should the university be
required to close for a period of time, we are committed to ensuring that all aspects of our educational programs
will be delivered to our students. These may include altering and extending the duration of the traditional term
schedule to complete essential instruction in the traditional format and/or use of distance instructional methods.
Specific strategies will vary from class to class, depending on the format of the course and the timing of the
emergency. Faculty will communicate class-specific information to students via AU e-mail and Blackboard,
while students must inform their faculty immediately of any absence due to illness. Students are responsible for
checking their AU e-mail regularly and keeping themselves informed of emergencies. In the event of a declared
pandemic or other emergency, students should refer to the AU Web site (american.edu/emergency) and the AU
information line at (202) 885-1100 for general university-wide information, as well as contact their faculty and/
or respective deans office for course and school/college-specific information.

Academic Integrity
You are subject to the Academic Integrity Code of American University. All work submitted must be your own
or must be properly documented. Collaborative work and work previously submitted in another class must be
approved in advance by the instructor. See the following link for more details;http://www.american.edu/
provost/registrar/regulations/reg80.cfm#list

The Inclusivity Statement/Equal Treatment Statement

American University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including
pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and
expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individuals genetic
information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively Protected Bases) in its programs and
activities. The university expressly prohibits any form of discriminatory harassment (including dating violence,
domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment and stalking) on any Protected Bases. For more
information, please see: http://www.american.edu/ocl/TitleIX/index.cfm

Course Requirements
Attendance and active participation are required for success in courses. I will take attendance each class
period and report your absences to your program advisors. In addition, being on time is important.

All phones must be turned off (not vibrate). In addition, no personal laptops are permitted during class
time unless otherwise noted.

Students are required to complete all assigned readings and homework tasks before class. Late
homework is not accepted. Essays and research papers are to be submitted via Blackboards
Assignment Manager by the due dates and times established.

There are no make-ups for in-class writings, midterm or final exam. Students who are absent on one
these days will receive 0 points unless special arrangements have been made with the instructor in
advance.

All paper assignments must be typed, double-spaced, paginated, have 1-inch margins, and use 11-12
point Times New Roman with your full name and date shown in the header. All in-text citations and
references should follow the APA style.

See http://www.apastyle.org/learn/tutorials/basics-tutorial.aspx for more details about APA style.

For electronic submissions, use the following naming convention when saving your file attachment:

o Assignment name First name Last name Month Day

Examples:
o Cause-Effect Essay JaneDoe 0930
o CauseEffect Essay JaneDoe REV 0931
o Narrative Essay JamesDean 1021

Grades

A 93 - 100 C+ 78 - 79 D 60 - 62
A- 90 - 92 C 73 - 77 F 0 59
B+ 88 - 89 C- 70 - 72
B 83 - 87 D+ 68 - 69
B- 80 - 82 D 63 - 67
 Class Assignments and Expectations

Participation and Preparation 10%

Students are required to be active contributors in each class. This not only includes coming to
class on time and prepared, but also challenging yourself, expressing your opinions and ideas
with the rest of the class, and providing constructive and respectful feedback to classmates
during peer work. Homework and in-class writing assignments are also included in the 10% of
the participation and preparation grade. Please note that no late homework assignments will be
accepted.

Quizzes, Editing Logs and Journal 10%

A journal and an editing log will be maintained and submitted weekly. Students will also take
editing quizzes over the course of the semester. These quizzes will test student comprehension of
grammar and writing concepts as well as their ability to employ this understanding in an
authentic written context. Makeup quizzes will not be given except in the rare case of a student
emergency.

Essays 30%
During the semester, students will study various writing techniques and disciplinary styles and
will be asked to apply what they have learned in two written essays:

1. Definition and Classification 2. Problem / Solution

Essays will be graded on organization, support, clarity, format, use of academic vocabulary, and
effective application of grammatical and mechanical concepts. Students are also required to complete
all pre-writing assignments whether they are assigned for completion in-class or at home. All materials
such as outlines, rough drafts, peer review feedback forms and works cited pages must be submitted
along with the final draft. Similar to homework, essays must be submitted at the beginning of class on
the day they are due.

Research Paper 20%

At the end of the semester, students will present a 3-4 page research essay on a topic of their choice.
Topics must be approved by the instructor in advance. Students will write a proposal, annotated
bibliography, multiple drafts with APA format, and a Works Cited page.

Midterm and Final Exams 30%

Students will take two exams over the course of the semester: a midterm and a final exam. The purpose
of these exams is to assess student comprehension of course content, ability to compose academic
writing and apply accurate grammatical concepts. Students will be given a single class period to take the
exams. Please note that if a student is absent on the day of an exam, students must submit a doctors note
to the appropriate university office in order to receive a makeup. Do not send the doctors note directly
to the professor.
 Course Schedule

Week Assigned Readings Assignments/ Tasks

WRITING Course Introduction

o Review of Paragraph Structure Diagnostic Essay
o Online Journaling
1
(8/29)
GRAMMAR: Review of Sentence Structure
o Independent and Dependent Clauses
o Introduction to the Editing Log

WRITING In-Class Writing

o Review of Essay Structure Journal Submission 1
o Library Research Quiz: POS and Clauses
2
o The Research Proposal
(9/5)
o NO CLASS - 9/5 (Labor Day)
GRAMMAR:
o Connecting Words and Transition Signals

WRITING In-Class Writing

o Introduction to the Definition & Journal Submission 2
Classification Essay Quiz: Connecting Words and
o Support: Fact vs. Opinion Transitions
3 Research Paper: Topic
(9/12)
GRAMMAR:
o Fragments and Comma Splices
o Editing Logs

WRITING: In-Class Writing

o Evaluating Sources Journal Submission 3
o The Thesis Essay 1 Outline: Definition and
o Extended Definitions Classification
4 Research Paper: List of 3 Sources
(9/19)
GRAMMAR:
o Noun Clauses
o Adjective Clauses: Restrictive and
Nonrestrictive
 WRITING In-Class Writing
o Summarizing Journal Submission 4
o Cohesive Devices Quiz: Noun Clauses and Adjective
Clauses
5
GRAMMAR: Essay 1 Draft: Definition and
(9/26)
o Overview of Verbs: Reporting, Linking and Classification
Action
o Summary Nouns

WRITING In-Class Writing

o Paraphrasing and Quoting Quiz: Summary Nouns and Reporting
o In-Text Citations Verbs
Essay 1 Due: Definition and
6 Classification
(10/3) GRAMMAR
o Overview of Verb Tenses: Present and
Future
o Nominalization

WRITING
o Summarizing vs. Paraphrasing
o The Reference List
Midterm Exam
7
(10/10)
o NO CLASS - 10/14 (Fall Break)
GRAMMAR
o Overview of Verb Tenses: Past

WRITING In-Class Writing

o Analyzing Source Material: The Explicit Journal Submission 5
Message Quiz: Verb Tenses & Summary
8 o Annotated Bibliography Research Paper: Annotated
(10/17) Bibliography 1
GRAMMAR
o Evaluative Verbs
 WRITING
o Analyzing Source Material: The Implicit In-Class Writing
Message Journal Submission 6
9
o Hedging and Boosting Quiz: Evaluative Verbs
(10/24)
Research Paper: Annotated
GRAMMAR Bibliography 2
o Conditional Sentences

WRITING In-Class Writing

o Introduction to Problem / Solution Essays Journal Submission 7
o Revising a Thesis Quiz: Conditional Sentences
10
(10/31)
GRAMMAR
o Conditional Sentences (cont)
o Adverbial Intensifiers and Phrases

WRITING In-Class Writing

o Research Papers: Using More than 1 Journal Submission 8
11 Organizational Format Quiz: Adverbial Intensifiers and
(11/7) Phrases
GRAMMAR Essay 2: Problem / Solution Outline
o ing Clauses and Draft

WRITING In-Class Writing

o Information Flow for Themes Quiz: -ing Clauses
o Revisiting the Paraphrase Essay 2 Due: Problem / Solution
12
GRAMMAR
(11/14)
o Analyzing Grammar: Textual vs.
Interpersonal meaning

WRITING In-Class Writing

o Synthesizing Source Material Journal Submission 9
o Arguing against Naysayers Quiz: Information Flow
13
(11/21)
GRAMMAR o NO CLASS Wednesday-Friday
o Review of Common Mistakes: Editing (Thanksgiving Break)
Sentence Structure
 WRITING Research Paper: Final Annotated
o Revising the Research Paper Bibliography
Grammar Review Packet
14 GRAMMAR
(11/28) o Review of Common Mistakes: Editing for
Verb Tense

15
Final Exam Review Research Paper Due
(12/5)

Final Exam- Date and Time TBA