Course Outline

Academic Reading and Writing LSC-1103

                                          Spring Semester 2015                    Dictionary           
            

Weeks	Course Content	Assessment
1 1-5 Feb	Course content, objectives, outcomes and explanation of assessment criteria. Introduction to academic reading, extensive reading, academic writing and academic research. Tasks and assignments. Reflective writing requirements. Academic vocabulary: written assignment. Dictionary.	Informal assessment
2 8-12 Feb	Academic vocabulary (continued). Formal and informal vocabulary. Library session. Developing extensive reading skills. Developing paraphrasing skills. Written assignment.	Informal assessment
3 15-19 Feb	Academic vocabulary (continued). Developing academic reading skills. Ideas for writing a research paper. Selecting research paper topics (two students write one research paper). Formulating research questions and research objectives.  Library session: extensive reading skills.	Academic Vocabulary Test 1: 20 points
4 22-26 Feb	Academic reading and academic research tasks. Formulating research questions and research objectives.	Academic Reading (informal assessment).
5 1-5 March	Academic reading and writing tasks. Academic vocabulary (continued). Writing reflections.  Developing paraphrasing skills.	Vocabulary assignment. Academic reading tasks.
6 8-12 March	Developing the culture of reading.  Developing reading and paraphrasing skills.  Paraphrasing texts using correct grammar, syntax, full sentences and complete paragraphs. Using transitions and other cohesive devices to link ideas effectively within and between paragraphs. Vocabulary game: www.FreeRice.com	Academic Reading Quiz 1: 20 points Extensive Reading 30 points  (Read 30 pages or 15,000 words  (1 page=500 words):  deadline.
7 15-19 March	Extensive reading (continued).  Writing and paraphrasing skills: drafting, revising, editing and proofreading a research paper. Using appropriate reference materials such as dictionaries and encyclopedias. Learning how to avoid plagiarism.	Paraphrasing Skills:  15 points  (write 5 pages or about 2500 words): deadline.
8 22-26 March	Reflective writing: editing and proofreading. Extensive reading (continued). Research paper writing.	Reflective Writing 1: 15 points (5 pages or about 2500 words; must be printed) – deadline.
29 March-2 April	No classes. Recess for staff and students	No classes
5-9 April	No classes. Recess for students / PD for staff	No classes
9 12-16 April	Research paper: editing and proofreading. APA style. Appendix.  Graphs, table charts and pie charts.	Reflective Writing - 5 p. Research Paper (8-12 pages or about 5000 words) – submit hard copies of rough drafts (deadline: Wed, 15 April).
10 19-23 April	Research paper: editing and proofreading Academic vocabulary: written assignment. Intensive and extensive reading. One Thousand Dollars, by O Henry.	Academic Vocabulary Test 2: 20 points
11 26-30 April	Research paper: editing and proofreading Academic vocabulary. Library session: extensive reading - on Thursday, 30 April!	Extensive Reading: 30 points (30 pages or 15,000 words (1 page=500 words): deadline is this week.
12 3-7 May	Writing and paraphrasing. Paraphrasing texts using correct grammar, syntax, full sentences and complete paragraphs. Using transitions and other cohesive devices to link ideas effectively within and between paragraphs.	Paraphrasing Skills: 15 points (5 pages or about 2500 words): deadline.
13 10-14 May	Reflective writing: editing and proofreading. Academic reading and academic research tasks.	Reflective Writing 2:  15 points (5 pages or about 2500 words; must be printed) – deadline:  14 May (Thursday).
14 17-21 May	Reading tasks.	Academic Reading Quiz 2: 20 points
15 24-28 May	Research paper writing techniques. Editing and proofreading. Table of Content. References. Appendix. Writing a research paper.
16 31 May-4 June	Writing a research paper (continued). Improve writing which involves not only the accurate use of language but also the effective selection and organization of information. Last day of classes: 4 June.	Research Paper (8-12 pages or about 5000 words) – submit final version of the research paper. Deadline: 4 June, Thursday, 4:00 p.m.
17 7-11 June	Assessment week. Final Assessment day – 11 June.	Final Exam
18 14-18 June	Ramadan starts on Thu, 18 June

Assessment

Portfolio 1

·         Academic Vocabulary Test 1: 20 points

·         Academic Reading Quiz 1: 20 points

·         Extensive Reading 1: 30 points (30 pages or 15,000 words (1 page=500 words)

·         Paraphrasing Skills 1: 15 points (5 pages or about 2500 words)

·         Reflective Writing 1: 15 points (5 pages or about 2500 words)

Total: 100 points

Portfolio 2

·         Academic Vocabulary Test 2: 20 points

·         Academic Reading Quiz 2: 20 points

·         Extensive Reading 2: 30 points (30 pages or 15,000 words (1 page=500 words)

·         Paraphrasing Skills 2: 15 points (5 pages or about 2500 words)

·         Reflective Writing 2: 15 points (5 pages or about 2500 words)

Total: 100 points

Research Paper

·         Writing a Research Paper (8-12 pages or about 5000 words)

Total: 100 points

This is how your research paper will be evaluated:

Assessment Criteria
Introduction (10 points): Focuses the reader’s attention on the subject of the research paper; clear, logical formulation of research objectives, research question, research hypothesis and thesis statement.	10
Table of Content (8 points): Reflects the structure and content of the paper.	8
Conclusion (10 points): Logically complete the development of the thesis, research question and research objectives.	10
References page (10 points): References are written in APA style, on a separate page. Follow the APA guidelines.	10
Format (10 points): Follow the guidelines for the format of the paper: Times New Roman 12, spaces between lines 1.5, and margins 1” to 1.25”.	10
Syntax and punctuation (12 points): Avoid sentence fragments, comma splices, and fused, incomplete, or awkward sentences. Avoid misuse or omission of the apostrophe, brackets, colon, comma, dash, ellipsis, exclamation point, hyphen, period, question mark, quotation marks, semi-colon, slash, underlining, or italics.	12
Quotations and paraphrase (10 points): Effectively quote and paraphrase from sources.	10
Organization and coherence (10 points): Arrange ideas in a logical order; use transitions and other cohesive devices to link ideas effectively within and between paragraphs.	10
Spelling and capitalization (10 points): Avoid spelling and capitalization errors.	10
Grammar and usage (10 points): Avoid inappropriate verb or pronoun use, unclear pronoun reference, inappropriate shift in person or tense, redundancy, imprecise language, or incorrect usage.	10

                                                                                                            Total:    100  

Any of the following may result in failure or a lowered grade:  

1. Research topic not approved in advance 
2. Outline, notes, and draft not approved
3. Research question lacking or unsupported
4. A paper that is primarily an anthology of direct quotations
5. Cheating, plagiarism, or falsification
6. Frequent errors in grammar and mechanics that prevent communication
7. A carelessly written or typed paper
8. A late paper (submitted late)
9. Failure to use APA referencing style
10. A lack of correlation between works that are cited in the body of the paper and sources that are listed on the works cited page.

Final  Assessment

·         Final Written Exam - 50% reading and 50% writing (duration: 2 hours)

           Total: 100 points.

Late Submission of an Assignment
(College Regulations)

In order to be fair to students who have submitted their assignments on time and to encourage effective time-management skills, late submission of an assignment will receive the following penalties: 

work submitted 1 working day late will be deducted 10%
work submitted 2 working days late will be deducted 20%
work submitted 3 working days late will be deducted 30% 
any work submitted more than 3 days late will get a zero mark.