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Academic Writing II

Spring 2013 Meet twice a week Monday, Thursday

Time: Monday 8:00-9:50 (3-106) Thursday 10:10-12:00 (1-217)

E-mail: austinkc@hotmail.com

Phone: 134 3922 0499

Website: http://austincasey.yolasite.com/

Office Hours: (ICB 319)

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Today:Introduction & syllabus

Short writing task

Review thesis statements and essay structure

Homework: Journal 1 – Due in 1 week

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Academic Writing II

What will you learn?

IELTS practice, vocabulary, grammar, essay writing (2)

What will you do?

You will write 2 essays from different genres.You will read and analyze your classmates' writings. Peer Review: RubricYou will learn how to write more professionally (MLA references)

Again, don't lose any assignments I hand back – Don't throw them away!

You will read various writing samples

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Goals:

> Select a topic you are interested in..> Discuss the topic in an organized way. We grade on structure> Choose your audience – Who are you writing to?

> You must have a goal or purpose in your essay supported with evidence and examples.

> You must use thoughts and ideas of others to support your essay (MLA references).

> Show depth in your essay – Explore, explain. KEEP IT INTERESTING!

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Required Textbook

FOV2 (Focus on Vocabulary 2 – purple book)

Writing Academic English (brown grammar book)

Essay Types:You will write 2 essays and weekly journals

1. Remembering an Event (550-650 words)Something that happened to you. An interesting event that you remember clearly.2. Writing a Profile (550-650 words)You will describe something or someone.3. Proposing a Solution (550-650 words)You will discuss a problem and explain how to fix it

6. Journal EntriesThese will be given by the instructor. They will cover various topics.

Very similar to IELTS Task 2 questions7. Vocabulary Quiz

A weekly quiz on the target words

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Grading:The point percentage is:

Class attendance & participation – 10%

Writings, quizzes and homework – 30%

Midterm exam – 30%

Final exam – 30%

Points:The 2 essays are worth 100 points each

Journal entries are worth a total of 10 points

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What is a good essay?Structure is more important than content

> The structure is correct> At the end of the introduction (the thesis), the reader knows the essay topic

clearly.> The main topic is clearly expressed.> The main topic is creative and new. It stands out.> The main idea is well developed. You have already considered any problems that

may come up.> The transition is smooth and logical.> Each paragraph has a clear relation to the main topic.> There is evidence and examples to support your essay.> There are good vocabulary words and sentences.> The conclusion is done correctly.> Research is correctly documented. Cite your sources.

This semester

Focus on IELTSWe will have practice tests

You will drop your lowest score so only your top tests will count towards your

grade

This semester

4 parts:

Vocabulary

Grammar

Writing

Reading

Vocabulary

We will continue the FOV2 book from Chapter 6

Same format as before (word lists with weekly quizzes)

Grammar

We will continue the AW book from Chapter 10 (actually we will review sentence structures first – not in the book but ppts)

We will learn some basic grammar and have a few quizzes

Writing

We will continue the weekly journals

We will write 2 academic essays with MLA references

Reading

I will assign a reading

You will get a reading handout to answer the questions

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Rules:

Attendance Policy:– You may have 1 unexcused absences. After this, each class missed results in a

one-third reduction for the final course grade. For example a B- becomes a C+ with 4 unexcused absences.

– Being late to class two times (more than five minutes late) is the same as one absence.

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Late Work:You will get -10% for each day that the assignment is turned in late.

Plagiarism:– You must do your own original work. – If you do not have the correct references you may get a 0 for the essay

– Plagiarism is very serious and you will be reminded about it in this course.– If you plagiarize something, you may fail the course.

Rules:

Short Writing Task

What did you do this winter holiday (New Year and Spring Festival)

Write 150-200 words

Try to use descriptive words and explain more. (use details)

While you are writing I will come around and take a conversation. Tell me your IELTS score if you have taken it this winter.

Hint: Where did you go? What did you do? Who did you meet? What did you eat? Anything special? Did you set off fireworks?

Next Task

Write an outline for what you did this winter break

You are not going to write and essay, but if you had to write an essay what would your thesis and outline be?

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Review: Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is the A thesis statement is the main ideamain idea of an of an essay. essay.

It is often It is often a point you want to arguea point you want to argue or or support in an essay. support in an essay.

So:So:

The thesis statement The thesis statement explains to the readerexplains to the reader the main idea of the essay, and the writer’s the main idea of the essay, and the writer’s opinion on that idea.opinion on that idea.

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Review: Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is only one A thesis statement is only one sentence.sentence.

It is always in the introduction of an It is always in the introduction of an essay.essay.

A thesis statement is an opinion (It A thesis statement is an opinion (It can be argued).can be argued).

A good essay must have sentences A good essay must have sentences to support your thesis!to support your thesis!

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Review: Thesis Statement

A thesis statement needs a topic A thesis statement needs a topic and an opinion.and an opinion.

Topic: what you want to talk aboutTopic: what you want to talk about

Opinion: what do you think about Opinion: what do you think about the topicthe topic

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Review: Thesis Statement

first person (I believe, In my opinion...) first person (I believe, In my opinion...)

unclear language (It seems, etc.)unclear language (It seems, etc.)

2 ideas2 ideas

facts - A thesis is something you plan to make an facts - A thesis is something you plan to make an argument about. argument about.

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Review: Thesis Statement

Don't be too general:Don't be too general:

Pets are good.Pets are good.

Be specific:Be specific:

It is healthy to have a dog because you can It is healthy to have a dog because you can exercise together and you will never be lonely.exercise together and you will never be lonely.

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Thesis Statements Examples:

Thesis statements are important for academic writing, TOEFL, and IELTS writing.

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Example Thesis Statements

1. Our cafeteria would be greatly improved if several changes were made.

2. Celebrities are often poor role models because of the way they dress, talk, and behave.

3. My first night as a security guard turned out to be one of the most frightening experiences of my life.

4. SUVs are inferior to cars because they are harder to control, more expensive, and dangerous to the environment.

5. The twentieth century produced three inventions that dramatically changed the lives of all Americans.

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Example Thesis Statements

6. Stress in the fast-food workplace has led to serious physical, psychological, and emotional problems for employees.

7. Advertisers target young people in order to market cigarettes, alcohol, and adult movies.

8. Living in a city has certain advantages over living in the suburbs.

9. Before moving away from home, every person should have mastered certain key skills.

10. Independent “mom and pop” stores are superior to larger chain stores for a number of reasons.

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Let's Make a Thesis:

Topics: Beijing, My hometown, Education, Pets, A trip that you took (Example: Hainan is the most____ because ______)

1 topic + 1 opinion

Hint: You want to teach me something or recommend something to me.

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More Hints:Try to exaggerate ideas to make it more interesting.Ex: I like movies = I am a movie fanatic

There are many people at the theater = the theater is too crowded I want to eat the snacks = it is impossible not to eat the snacks There is no parking space = it is impossible to find a parking space

Don’t start the sentence with I or You every time. Try to use different ways.

Ex: Start the sentence with a verb. Parking my car at the movie theater is impossible!

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Short Assignment:Take out a piece of paper. Write down an interesting event in your life. It can be

anything you like. You can choose something super happy, or even something sad or something that made you very very angry. Have fun with it!

1 paragraph = 150-250 words (about half a sheet of paper)Try to make a thesis and underline it

Hints:What made you so happy? When was the angriest time of your life? What was the

biggest adventure that you had with your friends when you were small? What made you so sad?

Try to think of something interesting. You can use this topic for your first journal.

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This is a heading:

Your NameMy NameClass NameDate

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Thesis StatementImportant:

thesis statement: must be an argument! Write it as if you were recommending something. It is your life experience but you must have learned something.

Introduction with hook & thesis

Topic Sentence 1

a. Evidence

b. Evidence

c. Example

Make an Outline: Topic Sentence 2

a. Evidence

b. Evidence

c. Example

Topic Sentence 3

a. Evidence

b. Evidence

c. Example

Conclusion

Journal 1

Different Shops

Write an essay comparing and contrasting the experience of shopping at two different kinds of stores. Use specific reasons and examples to illustrate the stores' similarities and differences.

Use 4 vocabulary words from Chapter 6

Journal 1

I want you to write your own IELTS Task 2 type question and answer it. Remember choose a trend or a problem. Then use the format “what are your opinions on this”

Use 4 vocabulary words from Chapter 6