English Composition 3 Fall 2009
Ann-Marie Hadzima

Tuesdays 6,7,8

English Composition 3, the most advanced English composition course offered by this department, builds on the foundation of paragraphing and essay writing established in the preceding two levels of composition. This two-semester course concentrates on two areas: argumentation (fall semester) and research paper (spring semester). The fall semester the course reviews and further develops a variety of writing skills needed to produce strong argumentation. These include summarization, paraphrase, idea presentation techniques and citation methods. In the spring semester, students apply their argumentation skills to the writing of an in-depth research paper. The class will work step-by-step through the research paper writing process.
Assignments throughout the fall semester develop skills used in writing a research paper in the spring semester. In the fall semester, students will write three 3 to 5 page mini-research essays in which they summarize, paraphrase and cite a variety of sources. In addition, students will complete several assignments on summarizing and paraphrasing. In the spring semester, students will write a research paper of between 15 and 20 pages, using 8 to 10 outside sources. Additional graded assignments related to the process of writing a research paper will also be given.

Objective: Develop strong presentation of critical or argumentative ideas and support them with outside sources.

Background: (1) research skills (2) composition skills (3) an inquisitive mind

Office hours: arranged in class

Reference book: Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential Tasks and Skills (2nd edition) by John W. Swales and Christine B. Feak. Ann Arbor:Mi: The University of Michigan Press (available at Bookman Books)

Evaluation
item percentage description
1. mini-research essays 60% 3 3-to-5 page research essays in which students
summarize, paraphrase and cite a variety of
sources
2. homework 20% summarization, paraphrasing and citation
assignments
3. attendance 20%