ENG108: College Writing and Research
Goals and Objectives
Spring 2009
ENG108: College Writing and
Research is a course that builds on ENG104: College Writing and Rhetoric. Many
of the foundations of ENG104 will be emphasized again in ENG108 with the addition
of an emphasis on college level research and more sophisticated arguments. In
ENG108, there will be continued emphasis on writing practices/processes
(pre-writing, drafting, revision) as well as reinforcement of rhetoric as the
art of persuasion (argument). Critical thinking skills are developed in many
areas (identifying and understanding scholarly or credible sources, integrating
others’ perspectives into one’s own argument, analyzing audience). Teachers
should construct assignments specific to their course to lessen the likelihood
of plagiarism.
College Writing
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Framing and
integrating quotes/paraphrases effectively
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Learning about
various types of academic writing (e.g. proposal, report, analysis, literature
review, multi-genre work, formal email, formal letter, annotated bibliography,
works consulted)
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Inserting one’s
own voice/perspective/knowledge in an argument (moving beyond creating an
argument by quoting others who agree with the rhetor’s
perspective)
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Knowledge and use
of rhetorical terms and concepts (ethos, pathos, logos, kairos)
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Practicing various rhetorical strategies (e.g. oral
presentations, videos, short stories, collaborative work, academic essay,
multi-genre texts)
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Reinforcing the
centrality of audience awareness and how it connects to effective rhetoric and
writing
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Awareness of
counter arguments; practicing rebuttals
Research
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Locating credible
sources and use of university library databases to locate sources
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Evaluating
credible sources (particularly those found via a university library database)
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Analysis of
sources
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Citing sources
(MLA style should be emphasized, but other styles such as APA, CMS or Terabian can also be convered)
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Learning to
credit sources
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Using a style
manual – style manual lessons should be integrated as part of course content,
not passive directives to “consult your style manual” (the director of
composition recommends the SF Writer
or the Hacker Pocket Manual of Style;
the former is a more comprehensive style manual, but the latter is less
expensive)
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Understanding the
difference between primary and secondary research; engaging in both
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Learning
strategies to avoid being accused of plagiarism (summary, paraphrase, correct
attribution)