COURSE NUMBER:

WR 122

Lecture: 

COURSE CREDITS:

Lec/Lab:

COURSE PREREQUISITES:

Lab:

A. Engage in and value a respectful and free exchange of ideas.

• Produce a substantial amount of revised, final draft copy (14-18 pages or 3500-4500 words) per term, including one researched essay of at least 1500 words.

And

• One or more of the following: peer editing; instructor conferences; journals; in-class and/or electronic writing; class discussions of papers; class discussions of assigned essays and stories for critical reading, small group work, quizzes, presentations, library and/or field research, a researcher's log or notebook, an annotated bibliography, or review of literature. Some sections may employ online or service-learning components.

B. Demonstrate critical thinking and reading skills:

• Practice active reading of challenging college level texts, including: annotation, cultivation/development of vocabulary, objective summary, identification and analysis of the thesis and main ideas of source material;
• Evaluate sources for adequacy, sound reasoning, and validity;
• Distinguish between observation, fact, inference, etc.; understand invalid evidence, bias, fallacies, and unfair emotional appeals; distinguish between objective and subjective approaches;
• Weigh various conclusions based on the evidence presented in order to build a credible discussion.

C. Make appropriate and effective rhetorical choices during all stages of the writing process: invention, drafting, revising, and editing:

• Write argumentative essays that present a clear thesis or claim that is arguable, unified, and sufficiently narrow;
• Address issues of purpose and audience, including audiences beyond the classroom;
• Choose appropriate language (voice, tone, style, etc.) to persuade an informed and educated reader or to assert a position taken by a writer;
• Select the appropriate documentation style (MLA, APA, or Chicago, for example) for the topics chosen.

D. Exercise Appropriate methods of development and support:

• Support conclusions with evidence by using appropriate outside sources;
• Select appropriate methods for developing ideas in paragraphs and essays, such as the use of analysis, facts, explanations, examples, descriptions, quotations, and synthesis of source material;
• Develop an original thesis or claim based on the evaluation and synthesis of sources, including summary, paraphrase, and integrated quotation;
• Thoroughly develop and support the thesis with a balanced and insightful presentation of evidence.

E. Demonstrate successful use of the research process:

• Use a library, online databases and the Internet to locate information and evidence;
• Write argumentative essays that incorporate external research and present a clear thesis;
• Integrate ideas and source material, being careful to differentiate between the source materials and the students' ideas and carefully credit sources and ideas.

F. Effectively and correctly use accepted conventions and formatting:

• Demonstrate the ability to use Edited Standard Written English (ESWE) to address an academic audience;
• Type and format final drafts with appropriate headings, titles, spacing, margins, demonstrating an understanding of an appropriate documentation style;
• Use the handbook or other resources for formatting, style, grammar, citation, and documentation.