Course Outline
The following syllabus is an explanation of the seven units of study that you will follow. Please note, however, that your instructor may change the activities, or the order of activities, in order to meet your needs as a learner.
UNIT 1: WRITING ABOUT YOURSELF
Learning Outcomes
In this unit, students will study the following:
-Write about their learning style and about their own lives
-Develop personal & narrative voice
-Write a diagnostic task
Class 1: Narrative writing 1 - My story
-Course introduction
-A major event in my life
Class 2: Narrative writing 2 - Writing a biography
-Peer review of major event in my life
-Interview each other
-Writing a biography
Class 3: Diagnostic Writing Task
-Writing task to diagnose each student's strengths and weaknesses in writing
UNIT 2: ACTIVE AND CRITICAL READING
Learning Outcomes
In this unit, students will study the following:
-Audience, genre, and context
-Active and critical reading: Why they are important
-Assessing reliable sources
-Reading around the text
-Skimming and scanning
-Annotating text
-Locating different voices and opinions as you read
-Reading between the lines: Inference
-Focusing on what is not said
-Analyzing style and formality
-Writing summaries
-Sentence structure
Class 4: Active and critical reading 1
-Audience, genre, and context
-Active and critical reading: Why they are important
-Assessing reliable sources
-Reading around the text
-Skimming and scanning
Class 5: Active and critical reading 2
-Annotating text
-Locating different voices and opinions as you read
-Reading between the lines: Inference
-Focusing on what is not said
-Guidelines for writing summary
-Receive diagnostic writing task and self-study guidelines
Class 6: Sentence structure 1
-Independent and dependent clauses
-Complex and compound sentences
UNIT 3: THINKING AND WRITING CRITICALLY
Learning Outcomes
In this unit, students will study the following:
-Understanding critical thinking
-Stating your arguments
-Avoiding logical fallacies
-Exploring critical thinking through writing
-Writing a critique
-Punctuation
Class 7: Thinking and writing critically 1
-Understanding critical thinking
-Stating your arguments
Class 8: Peer review of assessed summary
Class 9: Library visit
-Visit SFU library/Learning Commons
-Finding materials: online, databases
Class 10: Thinking and writing critically 2
-Avoiding logical fallacies
-Exploring critical thinking through writing
-Writing a critique
Class 11: Punctuation
-Commas
-Semi-colons
-Colons
UNIT 4: PARAGRAPHS, INTRODUCTIONS, AND CONCLUSIONS
Learning Outcomes
In this unit, students will study the following:
PARAGRAPHS
- Topic sentences
- Paragraph coherence
- Keeping to one topic
- Supporting your ideas
- Concluding sentences
INTRODUCTIONS
- Common features of introductions
- Thesis-guided writing
- Different introductions in academic writing
CONCLUSIONS
- Common features of conclusions
- Different conclusions in academic writing
- Improving style in academic writing
Class 12: Paragraphs 1
-Topic sentences
-Paragraph coherence
-Keeping to one topic
Class 13: Paragraphs 2
-Supporting your ideas
-Concluding sentences
Class 14: Peer review of assessed critique
Class 15: Improving style in academic writing
-Using formal verbs
-Using the personal "I"
-Personal and impersonal writing
-12 Common examples of weak style
Class 16: Introductions
-Common features of introductions
-Thesis-guided writing
-Different introductions in academic writing
Class 17: Conclusions
-Common features of conclusions
-Different conclusions in academic writing
UNIT 5: WRITING RESEARCH ESSAYS
Learning Outcomes
In this unit, students will study the following:
-What is a research essay?
-What is plagiarism?
-Avoiding plagiarism
-Paraphrasing
-Using reporting verbs and citation phrases
Class 18: Research Essays 1
-What is a research essay?
-What is plagiarism?
-Avoiding plagiarism
Class 19: Research Essays 2
-Paraphrasing
-Using reporting verbs and citation phrases
UNIT 6: WRITING MODES ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES 1
Learning Outcomes
In this unit, students will study the following:
EXPOSITORY WRITING
- What is expository writing?
- Expository writing: Organizing your information
- Review: Writing the introduction
- Review: Writing main body paragraphs
- Review: Writing the conclusion
- Features of expository writing in academic journal articles
- Language focus: Personal reflective language
- Language focus: The passive voice
Class 20: Expository writing 1
-What is expository writing?
-Expository writing: Organizing your information
-Review: Writing the introduction
-Review: Writing main body paragraphs
-Review: Writing the conclusion
Class 21: Expository writing 2
-Features of expository writing in academic journal articles
-Language focus: Personal reflective language
-Language focus: The passive voice
UNIT 7: WRITING MODES ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES 2
Learning Outcomes
In this unit, students will study the following:
WRITING ABOUT ARGUMENTS
- Gathering your ideas
- Organizing your ideas into an effective outline
- Adding supporting reasons, examples, and evidence
- Analyzing an argument essay
Class 22: Writing about arguments 1
-Gathering your ideas
-Organizing your ideas into an effective outline
Class 23: Writing about arguments 2
-Adding supporting reasons, examples, and evidence
-Analyzing an argument essay
Class 24: Exam preparation
Class 25: Peer review of assessed research essay
Class 26: End-of-course examination (in-class)