Syllabus
Module 1
Research and Source Reliability
Module 2
Learning to Summarize and Critique
Module 3
Using Sources and Giving Credit
Module 4
Putting It All Together
Things To Do:
Pending content from the CE
(This information is from the CE but is not the actual syllabus)
Grading Procedure:
The four assignments are worth a total of 500 points. Just add the four grades together and use the conversion scale below to find your final grade.
Grade Conversion Scale:
Conversion scale: 485-500 = A+; 465-484 = A; 450-464 = A-; 435-449 = B+; 415-434 = B; 400-414 = B-; 385-399 = C+; 365-384 = C; 350-364 = C-; 0-349 = No Credit (NC).
Even though I called Assignment Four an argumentative synthesis, I hope you understand that you have just completed a step-by-step argumentative research paper. Maybe calling it something else took off some of the pressure. Research papers are not harder than any other kind of writing. They just require more time and careful organization.
Final Grade: To determine your final grade, average your five grades: Assignments One, Two, Three and the two assignments from Assignment Four.
Contact me at: ryessick@as.ua.edu
M1 OverviewChange “contract” to “course”
Research – it’s not a word that most of us like. Say “research paper” and many people break out in a cold sweat. Never fear! This contract will cover the steps for writing a research paper one at a time. Module 1 will start off with finding ONE article. Before you know it, an entire research paper will come together.
Avoid ALL CAPS as a screen reader will not read the word but read each individual letter like it is an acronym.
M1 Objectives
• Use Scout’s databases to find relevant sources.
• Answer questions to decide if sources are reliable and credible.
• Understand the importance of highlighting and annotating possible sources.
• Understand the importance of using proper methods to quote and paraphrase information within sources
Understand is hard to measure; take a look at the Master Course for good measurable objective words that you could use.
M1 Readings
Read Chapter 1 “Critical Reading”, pages 1-27
M1 Activities
M2 Overview
After reading an article, if you can turn to a friend and summarize it, then you obviously understood what you read. Moreover, if you can explain what made the article effective or effective, you can also decide if the article is relevant and helpful to your research. In Module 2, you will understand the importance of being able to summarize and critique.
M2 Objectives
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
• Write a summary.
• Write a critique.
• Indetify and understand the importance of highlighting and annotating a rough draft version of any writing assignment.
• Review the importance of highlighting and annotating what you read.
• Review the importance of asking questions about your sources to establish credibility.
Understand is hard to measure; take a look at the Master Course for good measurable objective words that you could use.
M2 Readings
Read Chapter 4 “Summary”, pages 61-80
Read Chapter 6 “Critique”, pages 95-125
M2 Activities
Module 3 Overview
So you can tell someone else all about an article that you read. Can you write it down? Can you explain five or six articles? Well then you would be forced to write it down to keep it straight. What if you wanted to explain to someone why Americans should be allowed to have as many guns as they want? You would need to research the subject, and then use your research to make your case. Module 3 keeps you from plagiarizing. Every time you use information from a published source, you MUST give credit to the source and /or its author. Plagiarism is a BIG “no - no.” Thank you Module 3!
Module 3 Objectives
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
• Understand how to avoid plagiarism.
• Understand how to use sources and properly document those using parenthetical citations.
• Learn how to create a Works Cited for your paper.
• Review the importance of highlighting and annotating what you read.
• Review the importance of asking questions about your sources to sources to establish credibility.
Understand is hard to measure; take a look at the Master Course for good measurable objective words that you could use.
Module 3 Readings
Read Chapter 11 “Plagarism”, pages 265-273
Read Chapter 12 “Documentation”, pages 275-286
Read Chapter 13 “Reference Lists and Works Cited Entries”, pages 287-306
Module 3 Activities
Module 4 Overview
You now have five good articles that you have thoroughly researched. It’s time to decide on a thesis and use your articles to present an argumentative synthesis. You have all the tools you need. It’s time to put it all together.
Module 4 Objectives
Upon completion of this module, you will be able to:
• Identify and understand the basic elements of writing an informative synthesis.
• Create and understand how to write an argumentative synthesis.
• Identify and understand organizational plans and know that difference between a block format and an alternating format.
• Identify and understand the importance of highlighting and annotating a rough draft version.
Understand is hard to measure; take a look at the Master Course for good measurable objective words that you could use.
Module 4 Readings
Read Chapter 9 “Informative Synthesis”, pages 171-211
Read Chapter 10 “Argumentative Synthesis”, pages 213-263
Module 4 Activities
M1 Activities
Add a sentence to give the students an overview of how and why they are completing this assignment. Look at the Progressive Writing Assignment in EXD 330A for an example.
Learn to use Scout and the library databases by watching the videos and using the tutorials in the library file. Then using the Gorgas Library tab, use Scout to find one interesting article (2-5 pages long) on a current, controversial issue the is available in PDF format (rather than html) if possible. You can e-mail your article and the works cited entry to yourself. Then use the Internet to gather information on your article’s author and the magazine publication. 20 pts. This might need to be broken down into more steps
Read Ch. 1 “Critical Reading,” pages 1-27. Read your article thoroughly and answer the nine questions found on page 3. Type the questions and the answers. 20 pts.
Based on your article, answer the following nine questions from pages 4-10. Type the questions and the answers. 20 pts.
Using pages 11-17, highlight and annotate your article. Look over pages 25-27. Are there any questions you need to answer that haven’t already been addressed? If so, type the questions and the answers. Save the highlighted and annotated article. 20 pts.
Read Ch. 2, “Quotation,” pages 29-45. This is a very important chapter. Focus on MLA style. Look back at your highlighted sections in your article. Pull useful information from your source, and type an example of a section you could block quote and two different kinds of integrated quotes you could use. (MLA style) Make sure to properly lead in to these quotes. 10 pts.
Read Ch. 3, “Paraphrase,” pages 47-59. Focus on MLA. Using your article, type two examples of information you could paraphrase. *Type the original passages and then the paraphrased versions. (MLA style documentation) This is also essential information! 10 pts
Module 1 - 100 points total Move this information to the overview sentence at the beginning of the module.
After you have completed Module 1, you may begin Module 2; however, you must wait for the instructor to grade Module 1 and return it to you before you can complete and post Module 2. Look at EXD330A as an example setting this up.
M2 Activities
Using the databases in Scout, find two new articles on the same topic as your first article. Try to find PDF files if possible. Again use the Internet to gather information about the authors and publications. Highlight and Annotate the two new articles. Choose five relevant questions from pages 24 and 25 for each article. 1st highlight and annotate article with five questions = 15 pts. 2nd highlight and annotate article with five questions = 15 pts.
Read Ch. 4, “Summary,” pages 61-80. Create a document with a brief informative summary for each of the two new articles. (3 paragraphs each, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, MLA heading) *Be sure to use the title and the author’s name in the first sentence of each summary. 1st summary = 15 pts. 2nd summary = 15 pts.
Read Ch. 6 “Critique,” pages 95-125. Using pages 123-125, first create a rough draft of a critique based on ONE of your new articles. (Make sure it is “marked up”). Then make corrections to the rough draft and save it as a final copy of your critique. (3 to 5 paragraphs, double-spaced, 12 pt. font). Rough Draft with markings = 10 pts. Final draft = 30 pts.
Module 2: 100 points total
After you have completed Module 2, you may begin Module 3; however, you must wait for the instructor to grade Module 2 and return it to you before you can complete and post Module 3. Pay close attention to your graded work and make note of any problems. You need to fix writing errors (using the book and your instructor). You do not want to make the same mistakes in your next assignment.
Module 2 Activities (points for this section do not add up to be 100)
Part 1: 30 pts
Part 2: 30 pts
Part 3: 40 pts
Module 2 Checkpoint
After you have completed Module 2, you may begin Module 3; however, you must wait for the instructor to grade your Module 1 assignment and return it to you before you can complete and post your Module 2 assignments.
M3 Activities
Using Scout, find two new articles on the same topic as your first three articles, PDF files, if possible. Once again, find information about the authors and publications. Highlight and annotate these two articles. Choose five relevant questions from pages 24-25 for each of your articles. Type the questions and the answers.
First, highlight and annotate article with five questions = 15 pts. Second, highlight and annotate article with five questions = 15 pts.
Read Ch. 11, “Plagiarism,” pages 265-273. This is a very important chapter!
Make sure you understand how to avoid plagiarism. It is a very serious offense.
Read Ch 12, “Documentation,” pages 275-286. Focus on MLA style. Using your two new articles, and pages 282-285, create a document with two examples of proper documentation of paraphrased sections from one of your articles. Then, add to your document two examples of proper documentation of quoted sections from your other article. Make sure that you understand how to document from an article with two, three, or more than three, authors. Also, note how to document an article with no author. This is essential to research writing.
Paraphrasing = 10 pts. / Quoting = 10 pts.
Read Ch. 13, “Reference Lists and Works Cited Entries,” pages 287-306. Focus on MLA style pages 297-306. The five articles that you have should be from an Online Service; however, you may have had to locate articles using other methods. A Works Cited example is on pages 304-306. Type a Works Cited sheet for your five sources. Follow the example very closely. 50 pts.
Module 3: 100 points total
After you have completed Module 3, you may begin Module 4; however, you must wait for the instructor to grade Module 3 and return it to you before you can complete and post Module 4. Pay close attention to your graded work and make note of any problems. You need to fix writing errors (using the book and your instructor). You do not want to make the same mistakes in your next assignment.
Module 4 Activities
Read Ch. 9, “Informative Synthesis,” pages 171-211 and Ch. 10, “Argumentative Synthesis,” pages 213-263.
Post a rough draft with markings AND a final draft (MLA style) of an Argumentative synthesis, based on all five of your articles.
You have a current controversial topic. Now choose a side and support it using your research. Create a thesis where you state your argument. For example: Terminally ill patients should (should not) be allowed to request a lethal injection. Then use the paper to support your thesis. You are not required to do source cards or note cards, but if cards help you to get organized, you are welcome to do them. Use pages 223-229 to help you decide on your thesis and organizational plan. *For an argumentative synthesis, the alternating format is preferred. Some writers call this method point-by-point. For this paper, you must use information from all five articles. Document at least five quotes, seven paraphrased sections, and one summarized passage using MLA parenthetical documentation.
The final copy should be at least five to eight pages long including the Works Cited page. Make sure to create a corrected version of your Works Cited as the last page of this paper. If your Works Cited was perfect in Assignment Three, then you may use the graded one as the final version. Make sure to put your last name and the page number on the Works Cited also.
Double space the entire paper, including the heading and use 12-pt. font. There is a sample argumentative synthesis using MLA format in the SAMPLE file.
100 pts Rough Draft 80 pts. and Rough Works Cited - graded version from assignment 3 - 20 pts.
100 pts Final Copy of paper with corrected Works Cited
Module 4: 200 points total
You have completed all the modules for this course.