Course Descriptions

Academic Writing 1 (AWT1001)

Course Description
Academic Writing 1001  (AWT 1001) is a 75-contact-hour course, which focuses on the four basic sentence types in English, paying close attention to accurate and appropriate language use. The course also introduces the students to paragraph writing, using three rhetorical patterns: narrative, process analysis and definition. AWT 1001 teaches writing as a process, using a communicative and a learner-centered approach in an academic environment.

To enroll in AWT 1001, students need to score a minimum of 420 in TOEFL in addition to 4/09 in the Language Center Writing Placement Test (WPT).

Course Objectives
AWT 1001 aims at preparing students for Academic Writing 1002 (AWT 1002). AWT 1001 also reinforces the grammar and the reading skills taught in other courses at the Language Center. In accordance with the LC mission statement, AWT 1001 exposes students to culturally diverse and authentic material, enhances critical thinking, and uses up-to-date technology.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
By The end of the course, students will be able to

1. recognize and use dependent and independent clauses correctly.
2. recognize and produce the four basic sentence types when writing a paragraph.
3. use correct punctuation and capitalization in writing.
4. combine clauses and phrases using appropriate linking words.
5. use adequate grammar in writing.
6. use pre-writing strategies.
7. write a paragraph with a clear topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence.
8. write a unified and coherent paragraph.
9. develop three types of paragraphs (narrative, process, and definition).
10. self-edit their writing and peer-edit their classmates’ writing.

Evaluation

• Mid-term exam:                                 20%
• Class-work up to midterm:                20%
• Final exam:                                         20%
• Portfolio:                                             30%
• Teacher evaluation:                           10%   

Grading the paragraphs:
For each rhetorical pattern, the paragraphs will be graded in the following way:

• First paragraph: 2 drafts will be graded.
• Second paragraph: 2 drafts will be graded.
• Third paragraph: only one draft will be graded, and the paragraph must be written in class.

Final exam: During the final exam, students will have to write two paragraphs in 60 minutes.

Course Materials

• Writing Academic English (4th ed.),
• Great Paragraphs (2nd ed.),
• & supplementary materials