Spring, 1999

A. Required Texts:

(1) Seyler, Read, Reason, Write. McGraw-Hill, 1999.

(2) Lester, Writing Research Papers. Harper-Collins, 1998.

(3) Raimes, Keys for Writers: A Brief Handbook. Houghton Mifflin, 1999.

(4) Literary Texts: English 102. McGraw-Hill, 1998.
 
 

B. Course Description and Objectives:
 

The overall objective is to help students achieve proficiency in writing research papers. This will entail:

(1) affording the student practice in the various skills and techniques on which effective argumentation and exposition rest:

(a) Critical Reading: Note-taking, summary, exposition. Identification and evaluation of elements of argument: thesis, premises, definitions, kinds of reasoning, evidence, intended audience, tone;

(b) Writing: Generating ideas, defining key terms, formulating thesis, articulating premises; establishing and organising evidence; identifying audience;

(2) training the student to acquire a firm grasp of the formal elements involved in research: presentation of documentation, bibliography, quotation and paraphrase;

(3) developing the student's ability to evaluate and use appropriate source materials from the library and elsewhere;
 
 

C. Course Requirements:

(i) a journal, to be submitted at various times during the semester. This will consist of a series of page-length assignments which will include your responses to readings in the textbook;

(ii) three papers, the topics of which will be worked out in mutual consultation between student and instructor;

(iii) a final examination, to be held on Wednesday, May 5, 1999, 9:00-12:00.
 

D. Schedule of Assignments:
 

Unit 1: (a) Critical Reading: (Chapters 1-3 of Read, Reason, Write):

-- techniques of note-taking, outline, summary, paraphrase;

-- readings drawn from Read, Reason, Write, Chs. 1-3.
 

(b) Elements of Argument (Chapters 5-6 of Read, Reason, Write):

-- introduction to process of argument;

-- several short written exercises culminating in a 750-word analysis of an argument;

Jan 19/20: Introduction to course.

Jan 25/26: Assign draft of 750-word analysis.

Feb 1/2: 750-word draft due. Journal due, for initial inspection by instructor.

Assign research proposal (for Unit 3).

Feb 8/9: Return 750-word draft.

Feb 8-12: Conferences (to be held in class while remaining students work on a pregiven task): to discuss both 750-word draft and journal.

Feb 15/16: Final draft of 750-word paper due.

Introduction to Unit 2.

Assign draft of 1000-word argument for Unit 2.
 

Unit 2: Developing One's Own Argument (Chapters 5-6 of Read, Reason, Write):

-- students undertake readings on ONE topic of their choice in Section IV of Read, Reason,Write:"Euthanasia," "Censorship," "Immigration," "Global Warming,"etc.

-- students derive a subject from these readings and develop their own, narrower, topic;

-- students define viable topic, thesis; identify evidence, sources, audience;

-- students are given a library tour/library research seminar during this unit;

-- students write a 1000-word argument.
 

Feb 22/23: Research proposal (for Unit 3) due.

Feb 22-26: Conferences to discuss research proposals for Unit 3.

Feb 25/26: Draft of 1000-word paper due.

Mar 1-3: Library tours.

Mar 4-5: Return 1000-word draft.

Working bibliography for research paper due.

Mar 11/12: Final draft of 1000-word paper due.

Mar 15-19: Spring Break.
 
 

Unit 3: (a) Research Paper (Chapters 7-10 of Read, Reason, Write):

-- students extend their research for the topic they chose in unit 2, using the library and other resources outside of the textbook. Alternatively, students may pursue a topic of their own choice (having consulted with the instructor during Unit 2).

-- students write a research paper of 10-12 pages of double-spaced type, with a comprehensive bibliography appended. Students may use MLA or APA style, or whatever format suits their discipline, provided that it is self-consistent;
 

(b) Arguing about Literature (Chapter 4 of Read, Reason, Write; readings from

Literary Texts: English 102):
 

-- the remainder of the journal will be devoted to "Arguing about Literature." The final examination will also be centred on the explication of literary texts.
 

Mar 22/23: Notecards/annotated bibliography due.

Apr 1/2: Draft of research paper due.

Apr 12/13: Return draft of research paper.

Apr 12-16: Conferences to discuss drafts of reasearch paper.

Apr 22/23: Final draft of research paper due.

Apr 30: Last day of class.

May 5: Final Examination, 9:00-12:00.