L A N G U A G E
HW0223
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C O M M U N I C A T I O N
C E N T R E
ESSAY WRITING: CRAFTING AN ARGUMENT
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course equips English students with the skills to craft essays about literature at the undergraduate level. You will
learn to approach writing more intentionally at all points of the writing process, especially while choosing and
developing an argument. While the techniques you learn will be useful for essay writing in general, the course
focuses on issues that pertain to the study and criticism of literature: explication (close reading), literary analysis and
argumentation based on both textual evidence and critical sources. You will learn to deliver writing that meets
expected guidelines—whether MLA's or your professors'—while writing in your own voice and for your own
intellectual satisfaction. Other important topics include: organization and structure, principles of style, writing
mechanics and grammar, language and diction, precision and concision, and revision and editing.
There are no examinations in this course. You will complete three assessed assignments.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Attend tutorial sessions. The textbook and tutorial notes provide you with the theoretical input that you need to do
well for the course. During the tutorials, or writing workshops, you will apply the skills you have learnt through
individual and group tasks.
TEXTBOOK
Headrick, Paul. A Method for Writing Essays about Literature. 2010.
ASSESSMENTS (100% COURSEWORK)
Assignment 1 (individual)
Assignment 2 (group)
Assignment 3 (individual)
Class participation
30%
10%
45%
15%
Important note on late submissions:
Marks drop by 20% for each day that an assignment is submitted late. Assessed work submitted five days late
(including Sat and Sun) will be given a zero.
Important note on plagiarism:
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Depending on the severity, penalties may include formal censure and/or receiving a
lower mark or F.
REFERENCE
Barnet, Sylvan, and William E. Cain. A Short Guide to Writing about Literature. 11th ed. New York: Pearson. 2009.
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L A N G U A G E
HW0223
&
C O M M U N I C A T I O N
C E N T R E
ESSAY WRITING: CRAFTING AN ARGUMENT
COURSE SCHEDULE
Wk
1
Tutorial
No tutorial
2
Introduction to the Course
Audience and Purpose
Readings: Webb, John. "Columbia River"
Argument Structure: Analytical Paragraphs
Reading: Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "The Yellow Wallpaper"
Reading and Responding to Literature
Readings: Textbook p. 94-96;
Erdrich, Louise. "Scales"
Theme, Content, Form
Readings: Bishop, Elizabeth. “One Art”;
Tom, K. “Parallax”
Style, Tone and Voice
Reading: Kincaid, Jamaica. “Girl”
Assignment 1 due
Tackling the Essay
Reading: Frost, Robert. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
Conducting a Library Search
Guest Tutorial
Academic Ethics and Plagiarism
Guest Tutorial
Documentation, Reverse Outlines (e-tutorial and small group work)
Reading: Textbook p. 81-106
Assignment 2 due
Using Critical Sources
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Language, Diction, Precision and Concision
Consultation: Feedback on Assignment 2 and preparation for Assignment 3
13
Putting it Together: Review of Course Assignment 3 due
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