Introduction to Academic Writing
Class Calendar
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Week 1:
- Watch the following Videos
Introduction to Academic Writing
Paragraph Structure
- Do Exercises 2-3 on page 4 of the textbook.
- Read the Rhetorical Focus on page 5 of the textbook and do activities 4 & 5 on pages
5-6.
- Discussion: Write a short self-introduction in the Forums on the Writing Studio class
page.
When you answer questions from the textbook, type your answers in Microsoft Word and
save the file. Then upload your files to the Assignments file folder on the Writing Studio
class page. Answer the Discussion questions in the Forum on the Writing Studio class
page.
Please complete the activities when you have time during the week and try to have
all of your assignments completed by Friday evening.
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Week 2:
- Do Exercise 8 on pages 7-8 in your textbook.
- Choose one topic from Exercise 8 to write a paragraph on. Make a list of details and
examples you can use to describe the topic.
- Read the Language Focus on pages 20-21 and do Exercises 1-2 on pages 21-22
- Discussion: Why is it important to decide the purpose of your paragraph before you
write it? How do you think deciding the purpose will make it easier to write the
paragraph?
Week 3:
- Read the Rhetorical Focus on page 9 and do Exercises 1-3 on pages 9-11.
- Read the Language Focus on page 22 and do Exercise 3.
- Write a paragraph about the topic you chose last week. Use the ideas from your list to
complete the paragraph.
Paragraph Due Date: July 18, 2008
- Discussion: Look at Exercise 4 on pages 11-12. Which sentences do you think are
irrelevant? Why?
Week 4:
From Paragraph to Essay
Brainstorming
- Read the Rhetorical Focus on Pages 15 and 17.
- Do exercises 1-2 on pages 16-17 in the textbook.
- Discussion: What do you think is the most difficult thing about writing an essay?
Week 7:
Descriptive Essays
- Do exercises 2-4 on pages 28-30 in the textbook
- Brainstorm ideas for a descriptive essay. Topic: a place, an event, a food, a person
** You can choose another topic if you want to.
You do not have to upload your brainstorming to the Writing Studio.
- Discussion: Answer the questions from Exercise 1 on page 28 in the textbook.
Week 8:
- Read the Rhetorical Focus on page 33
- Do Exercises 3, 4 A & B on pages 33-35
- Do Exercise 6 on page 36 in the textbook to make an outline for your essay.
- Discussion: Is it difficult or easy for you to describe things? Why?
- Write your essay
Week 9:
- Read the language focus on page 38 and do Exercise 3 on page 39 in the textbook.
- Read the Language Focus on page 39 and 40 and do Exercises 4-6 on pages 40-41
- Write your descriptive essay.
Essay Due Date: September 19, 2008
- Discussion: Why is it important to add details to sentences and use a variety of
sentence structures in your writing?
Week 10:
Opinion Essays
- Read the essay on page 81 in the textbook and do Exercises 3-4 on page 82.
- Do Exercise 1 A & B on page 84 in your textbook.
- Choose a topic from page 84 or choose your own topic and begin brainstorming
ideas for your essay. You do not have to upload your brainstorming to the
Writing Studio
- Discussion: What do yo have strong opinions about? Why? Do you think your
opinions are usually similar or different from other people's opinions? Why or why not?
Week 11:
- Finish brainstorming ideas for your opinion essay
- Complete the outline for your essay using Exercise 5 on pages 87-88 as a guide.
- Read the Language Focus on page 95 in the textbook and do Exercises 1 & 2 on
page 96.
- Discussion: Do you think it is difficult to write a strong opinion about a topic? Why or
why not?
Week 12:
- Read the Rhetorical Focus on pages 90, 91, and 92 in the textbook and do Exercises
3, 4, and 5 on pages 91-93.
- Write your essay
Essay Due Date: September 30, 2008
- Discussion: What did you find beneficial about this course? What suggestions about
how to make the course better?
October 11, 2008
Week 5:
Introduction Paragraphs
Body Paragraphs
Conclusion Paragraphs
- Look at the main ideas in your paragraph. Make a mind map for each main idea and
brainstorm details and examples to make each main idea into a paragraph. You do
not have to upload your brainstorming to the Writing Studio.
- Discussion: Is it easy or difficult for you to brainstorm ideas? How can you make
the brainstorming process easier for you?
Week 6:
Outlining
- Use the essay outline handout on the Introduction to Academic Writing homepage to
make an outline for your essay using the ideas from the brainstorming you did last
week.
- Read the Language Focus on page 22 in the textbook and do Exercise 3 on page 22
- .Write you essay
Essay Due Date: August 19. 2008