"A writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people."
-- Thomas Mann
Writing is so hard because it requires the clear communication of well thought-out ideas. Spelling and grammar are the easy part. This class will help you master the hard as well as the easy parts of writing.
In this course, students develop their ability to use writing to explore ideas as well as to communicate what they have learned in a variety of contexts. The principles and skills students learn are widely applicable and will improve their communication in business and personal settings as well as at school. This course focuses particular attention on writing to excel in SNL's writing-intensive curriculum. Students learn strategies for combining experience with analysis and reflection in essay writing, managing the writing process, and writing persuasively. Particular emphasis is given to the process of revision. Completion of Essay Writing is a prerequisite for L8 Research Writing. 4 credit hours.
Students who feel their writing is particularly strong and can provide examples should consider taking the L4 Proficiency Exam to satisfy the L4 Competence.
Students who have fulfilled LL 261 through transfer coursework can still elect to take the Essay Writing course for college credit. You might choose this option if the thought of college writing makes you particularly nervous or if you struggled in previous writing courses.
LL 261: Can apply knowledge of composition and rhetoric for learning and communicating.
To buy your books, go to http://depaul-loop.bncollege.com
1. You will be required to use a recent edition of Hacker and Sommers’s A Writer's Reference. Although most editions of this book are acceptable, students who do not have the 9th edition or the 8th edition with 2016 MLA Update will be required to use Purdue OWL (https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/) to make sure they are using the most recent citation format.
2. Graff, Gerald and Birkenstein, Cathy. They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing, 3rd Edition. WW Norton, ISBN-13: 978-0393935844
3. Assigned selections from SNL Writing Guide at https://snl.depaul.edu/student-resources/writing/Pages/default.aspx
4. Additional readings available on e-reserve from the DePaul library, see links in your course, or Login to Ares Course Reserves and select Writing to Competence.
In this course, you will develop the following competence:
|
Competence |
Competence Statement and Criteria |
|
L4 |
Students will demonstrate the L4 competence through drafting and revising papers, discussion board postings, peer revision, a final portfolio with a writing learning plan and supplemental exercises as necessary. |
Students will demonstrate the L4 competence through drafting and revising papers, discussion board postings, peer revision, a final portfolio with a writing learning plan and supplemental exercises as necessary.
Course Structure
This course consists of ten modules. The estimated time to complete each module is one week. Please note that this is a four-credit class offered over ten weeks. You should expect to spend 10 to 15 hours per week on this class. To view the course schedule, click on the Schedule link on the left-hand navigation bar. This page contains the most recently updated listing of the topics and assignments due for each week. The following table outlines the course:
The following table outlines the course:
Week, Module # and Title
Readings
Assignments
Week 1, Module 1: Introductions and the Writing Process
Module 1 Content
Lamott, Anne. Shitty First Drafts (Note: This essay includes use of an adjective that some readers may find offensive. Please contact your instructor with any concerns.)
Read Writing Guide for SNL Students (read this week's Module content to find out which sections of the Writing Guide website you need to read)
1.1 One-page Self-Assessment: Your strengths and challenges with writing
1.2 Introductions Discussion
1.3 Starting your Digital L4 Writing Portfolio
1.4 Learning Awareness Inventory
Week 2, Module 2: Exposition, Invention, Developing Thesis Statements, Adding Descriptive Detail, and Peer Responding
Module 2 Content
Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. A Writer's Reference, Sections C1 and C2
Read Writing a Thesis Statement
Read Using Descriptive Detail
Read Writing Guide for SNL Students (read this week's Module content to find out which sections of the Writing Guide website you need to read)
2.1 Writing at SNL Discussion
2.2 Invention Discussion
2.3 Expository Essay First Draft
2.4 Expository Essay Peer Feedback Discussion
Week 3, Module 3: Joining the Conversation: Writing to Analyze , Evaluate, and Persuade
Module 3 Content
Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. A Writer's Reference, Sections A1 and A2
Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing, preface, introduction and Part I
Iron-Hearted Chef
Writing Guide for SNL Students (read this week's Module to find out which sections of the Writing Guide website you need to read)
View Video
3.1 Evaluation Essay Thesis Statement Discussion
3.2 Evaluation Essay First Draft
3.3 Evaluation Essay Peer Feedback Discussion
Week 4, Module 4: Rhetorical Analysis and Working with Sources
Module 4 Content
Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. A Writer's Reference, Sections A3-a, R1-R3, MLA or APA
Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing, Chapters 4 and 5
Read Understanding Plagiarism
Read The Reverse Outline
Ask a Librarian
Read Writing Guide for SNL Students (read this week's Module content to find out which sections of the Writing Guide website you need to read)
4.1 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Sources Discussion
4.2 Plagarism Test
4.3 Rhetorical Analysis Essay First Draft
4.4 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Peer Feedback Discussion
Week 5, Module 5: Revising and Paragraphing
Module 5 Content
King, Stephen. And Furthermore, Part I: Door Shut, Door Open
Read Graff, Gerald, and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing, Chapters 7 and 8
Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. A Writer's Reference, Sections C3, C4, C2a, C2c, C5 and C6
Read Writing Guide for SNL Students (read this week's Module content to find out which sections of the Writing Guide website you need to read)
5.1 Paragraph Discussion
5.2 Revising Paragraphs Discussion
5.3 Paper Introductions Discussion
5.4 Expository or Evaluation Essay Revision
5.5 Expository or Evaluation Essay Revision Peer Feedback Discussion
5.6 Update your Digital Portfolio
Week 6, Module 6: Persuading, Addressing Objections and Building Your Argument
Module 6 Content
Read Graff, Gerald and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing, Chapter 6
6.1 "Letter From Birmingham Jail" Discussion
6.2 Problem-Solution Essay First Draft
6.3 Problem-Solution Essay Peer Feedback Discussion
Week 7, Module 7: Metacommentary, Sentences and Proofreading
Module 7 Content
Read Graff, Gerald and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing, Chapter 10
Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. A Writer's Reference, Sections S and G
Writing Guide for SNL Students (read this week's Module content to find out which sections of the Writing Guide website you need to read)
View Video
7.1 Revising Sentences Discussion
7.2 Expository or Evaluation Essay Final Draft
Week 8, Module 8: Revision Maps, Word Choice, and Style
Module 8 Content
Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. A Writer's Reference, Section W
Read Graff, Gerald and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing, Chapter 9
Writing Guide for SNL Students (read this week's Module content to find out which sections of the Writing Guide website you need to read)
8.1 Revision Map Discussion
8.2 Word Discussion
8.3 Problem-Solution Essay Second Draft
8.4 Problem-Solution Essay Revision Peer Feedback Discussion
Week 9, Module 9: Punctuation, Final Editing and Using Your Moves
Module 9 Content
Graff, Gerald and Cathy Birkenstein. They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing, Part 4
Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. A Writer's Reference, Section P
View Video
9.1 Punctuation Puzzler Primer Video Discussion
9.2 Final Draft Problem-Solution Essay
Week 10, Module 10: Conclusion: Demonstrating the L4 Competence With Your Portfolio and Final Essay
Module 10 Content
Read Hacker, Diana and Nancy Sommers. A Writer's Reference, Section C3e
10.1 Your Portfolio Essay
10.2 Your Digital L4 Writing Portfolio
10.3 Revisit your Learning Awareness Inventory
Assessment
Distribution of Assessment
- Final Expository Essay or Evaluation Essay* = 30%
- Final Problem-Solution Essay* = 30%
- Discussions = 20%
- Portfolio including introduction, goals, self-assessment, essay drafts, self-evaluations, and Final Portfolio Essay = 20%
*Students must complete and submit all first and second drafts of essays to get credit for final drafts.*
SNL Grading Policy for Lifelong Learning Courses
In certain SNL courses in the Lifelong Learning Area of the BA curriculum, instructors regularly use the pass/fail grading system. However, SNL also offers students the opportunity in several of these courses to select a "Grading" option where grades A through C- represent passing performance. The faculty member and the individual student together decide which system will best promote the student's learning in that particular course. With no exceptions, a student must obtain permission from the instructor to use the grade option by the beginning of the third week of the quarter. After the third week of the quarter the assessment style agreed upon, whether pass/fail or grading, cannot be changed. The instructor is required to provide the student with the specific assessment criteria by which a grade will be determined prior to the student officially selecting this option. Grading criteria shall appear in the syllabus along with pass/fail assessment criteria.
Lifelong learning courses that already employ a grading system such as Quantitative Reasoning and Collaborative Learning will continue to use this system. The Lifelong learning courses Learning Assessment Seminar, Foundations, and Summit Seminar will continue to employ the pass/fail system exclusively. This policy applies to the other lifelong learning competencies and courses including Writing to Competence, Critical Thinking, Research Seminar, and Externship . The pass/fail policy and procedure of the university found in the student handbook should be followed where a student wishes to seek this option for a graded course.
Course Grading Policies, Practices and Assessment Criteria
In order to successfully complete this pass/fail course, students must:
- Submit all drafts in a timely manner (4 first drafts, 2 second drafts, and 2 final drafts)
- Receive passing grades on the two final drafts as per the SNL Paper Rubric (http://snlapps.depaul.edu/writing/Rubric.html)
- Participate meaningfully on the discussion board and in peer revision;
- Successfully complete the Portfolio
- Meet the criteria for the L4 competence as listed above
While early drafts are opportunities to grope around and experiment and will not be as polished or well-developed as final drafts, they should represent your best effort to and should not be stream of consciousness, a collection of notes, or a half-done essay. Every draft should be spell checked before you turn it in. Final drafts will be evaluated using the Grading Rubric for Papers at the School for New Learning (http://snlapps.depaul.edu/writing/Rubric.html).
Throughout the quarter, you will build a digital portfolio that includes your drafts, self-evaluations, and Final Portfolio Essay. The self-evaluations and portfolio essay addresses the fourth competence criterion and must include specific strategies for addressing your most common writing problems, equally concrete ideas for how to make the most of your strengths as a writer, and a clear plan for mastering the writing genres related to your focus area. The Portfolio helps you to look forward to set an agenda for your ongoing development as a writer and demonstrates what you have learned and reflects upon what you have accomplished in this class. The Portfolio as a whole should demonstrate that you have met or exceeded the criteria for the L4 competence.
A Special Note on Plagiarism for Writing for Competence Students:
In college, knowing why, when, and how to cite sources is vital. By using sources appropriately, you participate in the scholarly community as you relate your ideas and experiences to those of others. When citations are lacking or incorrect, you weaken your paper by failing to clearly make those connections. You also leave yourself open to charges of plagiarism, which can have serious academic consequences.
Part of the work of this class is to make sure that you understand what plagiarism is and how to avoid it, so be sure to ask if you have any questions about it. We will discuss how to cite sources and avoid plagiarism in the course. However, you can get a head start by looking at the sites indicated under "information on sources and citations" at the SNL Writing Guide.
Online Discussion
Discussion Boards
Discussion Boards are a forum for discussion and sharing information among students. Your instructor may create one or more discussion boards related to the topics you are studying each week.
At the beginning of the quarter, your instructor will set up two discussion boards. These discussions will help you and your classmates get off to an immediate start on the course, by providing conversational spaces for necessary, ongoing social and administrative activities. These discussions are:
- Introductions
- Course Q&A
The Q&A discussion is where the management and administrative tasks of the course are conducted, and where you can ask "process" questions and receive answers. You will also find the schedule of specific dates for your course in this discussion.
Your instructor will add additional discussion boards as you move through the modules.
Assessment Criteria & Guidelines for Online Discussion Participation
The discussion boards will be used for sharing ideas and drafts; learning about and trying out new writing strategies; reviewing grammar, sentence structure and composition rules; and giving and receiving peer feedback. Much of your learning in this class will happen as a result of your participation in the discussion boards. Failure to participate actively in the discussion boards is akin to absence from a face-to-face class and can be grounds for failure of the course.
A good discussion board post is like a short essay. It has a point that is supported with well-developed evidence. It is clearly organized and cites references to other sources. A comment upon someone else's post should not just be a simple agreement or disagreement. Your comment should say what specifically you agree or disagree with and why. You should give your own evidence for why you are in agreement, not just repeat what the previous poster has already said.
As with every writing task, remember your audience and purpose when crafting your discussion board posts. The tone and content should be appropriate to context of a learning community. Here is a summary of advice from SNL instructors on crafting successful discussion board posts:
The best posts are specific, responsive to other posters, polite, analytical, and supported by evidence from classroom discussions and/or the texts in question. Weaker posts are too general, unoriginal, rude, simplistic, off-topic, and supported with emotion rather than fact. Instructors focus on the need for reflection—as opposed to simple agreement/disagreement with previous posters—and the need for interactivity. Consider composing posts offline to avoid emotional outbursts or poorly thought-out posts and read your fellow posters' comments carefully and make sure to gear your responses to the topic.
Policies
College and University Policies
This course includes and adheres to the college and university policies described in the links below:
Academic Integrity Policy (UGRAD)
Academic Integrity Policy (GRAD)
Course Withdrawal Timelines and Grade/Fee Consequences
Accommodations Based on the Impact of a Disability
Protection of Human Research Participants
APA citation format (GRAD)
Additional Course Resources
University Center for Writing-based Learning
Changes to Syllabus
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary. If a change occurs, it will be clearly communicated to students.
Credits
This course was designed and produced by faculty and staff at SNL Online of the School for New Learning of DePaul University.
© 2017 School for New Learning, DePaul University. All Rights Reserved by SNL.