Critical Reading and Writing

COURSE DESCRIPTION :
The classes will be devoted to the development of the essential researching, compiling and writing skills necessary to function in an American academic environment. We will examine texts, poetry, and songs in order to explore how a particular writer has structured his/her ideas and used language to communicate his/her visions, emotions or opinions. We will investigate contemporary phenomena, people and trends to perfect the fine art of understanding. Students will also work on structuring different types of written work and oral work.

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES :
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
- Examine word art: spinning magic with words
- Archaeology( divining sense and meaning)learning to dig-research methodology
- Sew it together(the couture in coherence) creating unity and structure.
- Develop students? ability to organize, analyze and express ideas in a clear , methodical and poetic fashion.
- Hunt, seek, gather, investigate, and research information on any given subject
- Perfect the architecture of the basic essay structure ? a skill which will serve throughout an academic career regardless of subject matter or domain.
- Further consolidate the students? writing competency through the examination and experimentation of distinct essay styles (compare/contrast, cause and effect, argumentative) suitable for an American academic environment.
- The majority of classes will be devoted to the analysis of a particular text. Class discussion will allow students to explore how a particular writer has structured his/her text and used language to communicate his/her ideas, emotions or opinions.

TEXT :
Writing Academic English, Oshima& Hogue, Longman, 4th Edition, 2006

EVALUATION :
50% of the final grade will be based on written work, 25% on vocabulary and grammar checks and 25% on class participation.