AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-BANGLADESHDhaka, Bangladesh

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

COURSE OUTLINE

I - Course Title: English Writing Skills and Communication (Semester- Spring 2009-2010)II - Credit: 3III – AA and FIV - Course Description: The course is designed to study various rhetorical patterns and use their writing skills to develop essays in these patterns. The rhetorical patterns studied in this course are process analysis, cause and effect, and argument/persuasion. Students will also learn the process of writing. This course will help students learn how to think more clearly, organize thoughts in logical sequence, and improve writing skills through prewriting, writing, and rewriting processes. The underlying premise of the course is that the students who take it are inexperienced writers who need practice, not that they are incapable. Like other composition courses, the course is designed to give students extensive practice in writing in order to improve their ability to invent substantial content and express it in fluent prose. It helps students learn the many functions of writing--to discover ideas, use language effectively, and communicate with and influence audiences. Along the way, students learn or review conventional practices of usage and punctuation.

V – Objectives:

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a. understand how audience and purpose influence a writer's choices; b. flexibly employ the basic processes of writing--planning, editing, composing, and revising; c. develop multi-paragraph essays and arrange them coherently; d. use supporting detail based on personal experience and outside materials; e. demonstrate increased competence with varied sentence structures; f. understand and apply the basic conventions of syntax and mechanics; g. Proofread competently and prepare acceptable manuscripts.

VI – Topics (Major and subtopics) to be covered

TOPICS Specific Objective(s) per Topic

Time Frame

Suggested Activities

Teaching Strategy(s)

Principles of effective writing

Subject verb agreement

Fragments

Prewriting: planning the strategies.

Paragraph writing:Qualities, structure of a paragraph Topic sentence.

The different stylistic features of writing : linguistic analysis

Paragraph writing: Descriptive and Narrative.

Paragraph writing: Comparison

To be able to use the principles in their own writing To select the right verb for the subjectTo be capable of avoiding incomplete sentences in their writing

To develop organized paragraph

To learn to write an effective paragraph

To be able to find out the major linguistic elements of piece of a text

1 Week

1 Weeks

1 Weeks

2 Weeks

1 Weeks

1 Week

2 Weeks

2 Weeks

1 Week

BrainstormingClustering

Student-oriented throughout the semester: Students are expected to participate enthusiastically in the classroom activities

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and contrast.

Essays writing: Comparison and contrast.Punctuation ( comma , capitalization)Argumentative writing.

Letter writing: Official letters.

Lab session

1 Week

VII - Course RequirementsClass attendance: At least 80%. Failure to do so will bring an automatic UW. Class performance: Student-centered. Each student has to participate on a regular basis. Assignments: Must be submitted within stipulated time frame. No late submissions will be entertained. Quizzes: Will be both written and verbal. No make-up will be taken for missed quizzes.

VIII – Evaluation

1. Termed Exam 40%2. Quizzes & Assignments 30%3. Presentation and class performance 20%4. Attendance 10%Total 100%

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IX – Textbook/ Reference Materials The advancing writer book:

paragraphs and essays by Karen L. Greenberg, Harper Collins.

College Writing Skills With readings- John Langan

Quest Reading and Writing in the academic world- Pamela Hartmann And Laurie Blass

All kinds of lecture sheets and materials given by the course teacher.