Anna Fenyvesi

Academic Writing

Course for 2nd and 3rd year students

Instructor: Dr. Anna Fenyvesi

Course description:

The course aims to instruct students in the development and practice of writing skills necessary for a successful completion of their academic papers and theses. Students will be provided with samples of academic writing following the topics of the course, illustrated mostly through linguistic texts.

The lecture component of each class session will target the various aspects and elements of the writing process as well as the structural organization of various parts of papers. In the discussion component of each class students will analyze and critique each other's work, while in the end of the class all students will report on and summarize the main points of their discussions.

Throughout the term, students will be required to write and rewrite various short texts, with the main assignment of the course being the rewriting of a term paper according to the aspects of writing discussed in the course.

Students will also attend an individual meeting with the instructor where their work will be discussed and evaluated in detail. This meeting will take place in the 5th week of the term and will focus on the draft of the paper and on the complete paper, respectively. Missing the meeting counts as a missed class.

Requirements:

The main project of the term is the rewriting of a paper component by component in two stages, the draft stage and the complete paper stage. The paper is expected to be in the range of 3500-5000 words. Completion of the draft and of the actual paper will constitute 70% (25% + 45%) of the final grade, based on the effort and performance of the student. The completion of smaller assignments (proposal, bibliography, literature review, discussion, conclusion, and abstract) as well as active participation in class will be evaluated for the remaining 30% of the final grade. Regular attendance is required and crucial for a successful completion of the course.

Students are required to hand in all written assignments TYPED.

Grading:

• 89 - 100%: excellent (5)
• 76 - 88%: good (4)
• 63 - 75%: average (3)
• 51 - 62%: pass (2)
• 0 - 50%: fail (1)

Schedule:

• Week 1: Introduction: goals, expectations, and the organization of the course.
  Assignment: find out about MLA CD-ROM and various ways to search databases.
• Week 2: Applying for grants: writing a CV and a proposal.
  Assignment: write proposal; paper topic due.
• Week 3: Researching a project and prewriting.
  Assignment: compile annotated bibliography.
• Week 4: Writing a draft of the paper. Setting appointments for individual meetings.
  Assignment: complete first draft.
• Week 5: Individual meetings outside of class; Citation and paraphrasing; bibliography.
  Assignment: complete final draft; complete bibliography.
• Week 6: Organization and coherence 1: The introduction and the literature review.
  Assignment: write introduction and literature review.
• Week 7: Organization and coherence 2: Arguments.
  Assignment: prepare outline of arguments and write part 1 of discussion.
• Week 8: Organization and coherence 3: Conclusion.
  Assignment: write discussion part 2, and conclusion.
• Week 10: Writing an abstract.
• Week 11: Grading and signing of grade books.

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