Expository Writing Chelsea Stelmachowicz
Fall 2019
One semester .5 Credits Dual Credit Course – Concordia University Nebraska
Course Description
- Expository Writing is a course focusing on developing student processes for writing in multiple genres. This writing will include both research-based academic work and creative works. Students will use multiple techniques for idea generating (pre-writing); giving and receiving feedback; finding, evaluating, integrating sources; adapting strategies based on audience and context; revising; and editing.
Materials
- Pens, paper, notebook, binder. This class has no textbook but we will be writing a great deal. Please have something to journal in and a binder to hold all of your papers
Goals/Objectives
- Improve abilities to write clearly and concisely
- Understand and improve the writing process to produce more effective texts
- Refine writing abilities in multiple genres
- Expand abilities to give and receive helpful and constructive feedback
- Improve basic information and literary skills
Outcomes
- 30 pages of published (final copy) material covering a variety of genres
- Over 60 pages of typed rough draft work
- One major research project. This will require students to frame a research question and integrate source material while properly crediting their sources
- Essays of definition, division and classification, analogy, cause and effect, comparison/contrast, persuasive, description, and evaluation
- Writing group collaboration will allow them to give and receive feedback on preliminary drafts
- A writing notebook – included will be all written material, drafts, revisions, writing in class assignments, etc.
- A summary portfolio exhibiting their best works
Methods
The instructor will…
- Facilitate discussions
- Write along with students and share strategies
- Offer critique and consultation
- Share examples of excellent writing for students to study and imitate
- Assign in and out of class writing prompts
- Guide students in peer review and critique
Evaluation
- Involvement and participation in the writing process (in-class writing, notebook) 30%
- Demonstrated effectiveness of published writing (final drafts submitted) 40%
- Completed research paper 20%
- Demonstrated understanding of editing and evaluation techniques 10%
Late Work
- Late work will affect a student grade negatively. Please communicate clearly and effectively if you are falling behind in the class.
Cell Phone Policy
- Cell phone use is prohibited in this class unless otherwise noted by the instructor. Students should keep phones put away unless they are told they may be used for a certain assignment on the given day.
Academic Honesty
- Every student will be expected to produce his or her OWN work. Anyone caught plagiarizing or cheating will have a meeting with me to discuss the situation. Plagiarism can take many forms. Please ask any questions about citing works, websites, people, etc. to avoid this infraction.
Calendar
Wed, August 15 – Class syllabus, procedures, intros
Fri, August 17 – The writing process – what is it? Why do we write?
Mon, August 20 – Writing Prompts…Pre-writing. Generate ideas for paper…who am I?
Wed, August 22 – Rough Draft Due…Revision/Editing defined
Fri, August 24 – Final Draft Due. Calm down, it’s only the first paper
Mon, August 27 – Prompts, pre-writing. Discuss first paper and grading procedures
Wed, August 29 – Description paper Rough Draft Due
Fri, August 31 – Final Drafts for Description Paper…prompts for Process Paper
Mon, Sept 3 – No class, Labor Day!
Wed, Sept 5 – Process Paper Rough Draft Due
Fri, Sept 7 – Final Draft Process Paper Due…introduce Compare/Contrast
Mon, Sept 10 – Where are we? Revision/Editing
Wed, Sept 12 – Rough Draft Compare/Contrast Due
Fri, Sept 14 – Definition Day – pick a word – single day essay challenge
Mon, Sept 17 – Final Draft of Compare/Contrast Due. Discuss definition papers
Wed, Sept 19 – Revise and edit rough drafts. Research topic ideas
Fri, Sept 21 – Student Help Day…if you are missing work, you are here that day
Mon, Sept 24 – Definition Papers Final Draft Due. Persuasive essays – prompts
Wed, Sept 26 –Argumentation – find and read editorials. Discuss research paper topics
Fri, Sept 28 – Editorial due – the article you are responding to
Mon, Oct 1 – Letter to the editor due – include article
Wed, Oct 3 – Vocab Day…work on persuasive essay
Fri, Oct 5 – Rough Draft Persuasive Essay Due…work on definition…prejudice is the word
Mon, Oct 8 – Final Draft of Persuasive Essay Due…Analogy ideas
Wed, Oct 11 – Analogy ideas work
Fri, Oct 12 – Analogy work…Prejudice definition paper
Mon, Oct 15 – Analogy work …research paper topics
Wed, Oct 17 – Division and Classification brainstorming…Research Paper IDEA DUE
Fri, Oct 19 – Prejudice Papers Final Draft Due…cliché day
Mon, Oct 22 – Division Classification Pre-write
Wed, Oct 24 – Analogy Rough Draft Due…does the analogy work?
Fri, Oct 26 – Analogy Final Draft Due…keep writing clichés or division/classification
Mon, Oct 29 – Division/Classification Rough Draft Due
Wed, Oct 31 – ***Research Paper – Thesis Due – main idea – two sources 20 pts.
Fri, Nov 2 – Creative Day
Mon, Nov 5 – Final Draft Division/Classification Due…cause/effect intro
Wed, Nov 7 – Research…outlines….example… what are good sources?
Fri, Nov 9 – Outline for Research Paper due…4 Sources due. Writing Philosophy
Mon, Nov 12 – Cause/Effect Rough Draft Due
Wed, Nov 14 – Evaluation Essay discussion…movie or book….research
Fri, Nov 16 – Early turn in for Research Paper Rough draft…plus 1 point!
Mon, Nov 19 – Evaluation Rough Draft due
Wed, Nov 21 – Research Paper Rough Draft Due
Thurs, Nov 22 – Happy Thanksgiving
Mon, Nov 26 – Rough Draft Returns J Cause and Effect Final Due
Wed, Nov 28 – Creative Pieces…childhood lost, evaluate a literary work, find your best sentence
Fri, Nov 30 – MLA Works Cited Page Due…creative work continued
Mon, Dec 3 – Early Turn in for Research Paper - +10 ….Virginia letter
Wed, Dec 5 – Creative Piece Due….Creative Christmas Pieces - Satire (poem, hymn, essay)
Fri, Dec 7 – Research Papers Due 300 Points
Mon, Dec 10 – Literary Analysis Rough Draft Work
Wed, Dec 12 – Literary Evaluation Due….Satire Paper Due
Fri, Dec 14 – Review and Catch Up Day
Dec 17 – 19 Finals
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!