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2019 Academic Year Course Description and Syllabus

Course Name

English Writing A2(2credits)
Academic Writing A2(2credits) [HUML107]
Academic Writing A2(2credits) [HUML201]

Instructor Name

Mukesh Kumar Williams

Course numbers are displayed in blue color after course names.

Semester　Fall Semester

Course Sub Title (for general course and seminors)

Academic Writing

General Description

This is an English Academic Writing class for the fall semester where we study how to write short 5-paragraph academic essays, summarize paragraphs and develop vocabulary. If you are interested in improving your TOEFL scores then this is a class you ought to take. We would be using ideas related to society, culture and daily life in order to write academic essays. In the course we will also review some of the fundamentals of writing such as formatting assignments, connecting sentences, writing paragraphs, identifying main ideas, editing texts, organizing conclusions and using appropriate vocabulary through in class and home assignments. Since the course is based on Academic Writing textbook we will continue to study the remaining chapters of the book-specifically chapters 7 to 12.

Goals and Objectives

After completing the course students will be able to write academic essay, understand ideas in a paragraph and summarize text quickly. They will also develop their vocabulary and score well in English tests.

General Education / Faculty Courses: Most relevant Learning Outcomes for this course.

	To have acquired fundamental education and expertise in the humanities, social sciences, and culture and be able to properly understand, appreciate, and evaluate human affairs.
	To be able to self-express and communicate ideas freely and accurately in Japanese and foreign languages.
◎	To be able to develop new knowledge and expressions based on basic and expert knowledge.
	To be able to think logically and obtain and handle information in an appropriate manner and make accurate judgments.
	While respecting cultural diversity, to seek world peace and dignity of life as a global citizen.
〇	To understand what it means to learn, to cultivate the ability to be a self-learner, and to strive to grow as a person by setting and achieving goals.
	To show leadership and cooperation with others with the goal of building a humanistic society.

Instructor has work experience in the relative field of this course.

Yes

Detail of Instructor's work experience

rofessor Williams has taught academic writing classes for nearly two decades at Soka University and at other universities both to undergraduate and graduate students and conducted omnibus writing colloquiums, symposia and workshops. Presently he guides Soka students to write essays in English connected to Japan for Japan Spotlight, an online journal published by the Japan Economic Foundation.

Course Syllabus

	Content
Class 1	Lecture contents	Chapter 7: What is a paragraph? What is split note-taking? Paragraph explaining cause and effect and use of because; summary of every lecture
Class 1	Self-study Assignments	Read pages 48-51
Class 2	Lecture contents	Chapter 7: Mapping ideas and drafting paragraphs-descriptive or expository; descriptive stence, connecting ideas, thesis statement; rewriting
Class 2	Self-study Assignments	Read pages 52-54
Class 3	Lecture contents	Chapter 8: Expressing feelings and writing concluding sentences; developing essay topic; Introduction; reading topics about an essay
Class 3	Self-study Assignments	Read pages 55-57
Class 4	Lecture contents	Chapter 8: Supporting ideas for a paragraph and brainstorming VOCABULARY QUIZ 1
Class 4	Self-study Assignments	Read pages 58-61
Class 5	Lecture contents	Chapter 9: Narrative and logical thinking; using time expressions
Class 5	Self-study Assignments	Read pages 62-64; one paragraph telling a story
Class 6	Lecture contents	Chapter 9: Writing narrative paragraphs and telling stories via pictures; VOCABULARY QUIZ 2
Class 6	Self-study Assignments	Read pages 65-68
Class 7	Lecture contents	Chapter 10: Using double listing and writing comparison paragraphs
Class 7	Self-study Assignments	Read pages 69-71
Class 8	Lecture contents	Chapter 10: Organizing comparison paragraphs and putting ideas together
Class 8	Self-study Assignments	Read pages 72-74; Essay Draft 1
Class 9	Lecture contents	Chapter 11: Cause effect relationship and interview technique; VOCABULARY QUIZ 3
Class 9	Self-study Assignments	Read pages 75-77; Essay Draft 2
Class 10	Lecture contents	Chapter 11: Using question and checking paragraphs
Class 10	Self-study Assignments	Read pages 78-79; Full essay and abstract 50 words
Class 11	Lecture contents	Chapter 12: Writing about hopes and plans and reviewing connectors
Class 11	Self-study Assignments	Pages 80-83
Class 12	Lecture contents	Chapter 12: Grammar, parts of speech and punctuation; VOCABULARY QUIZ 4
Class 12	Self-study Assignments	Read pages: 85-89
Class 13	Lecture contents	Writing paragraphs and connecting ideas for final essay
Class 13	Self-study Assignments	Writing draft
Class 14	Lecture contents	Proof reading finalizing the 5 paragraph essay
Class 14	Self-study Assignments	Writing and finalizing draft
Class 15	Lecture contents	Final submission
Class 15	Self-study Assignments	Finalizing the essay

Evaluation/Assessment

Assessment	Percentage	Evaluation Criteria (Explanation)
Final Exam
Midterm
Papers	40%	500 words academic essay plus 50 words abstract (30 for essay and 10 for abstract)
Performance/Works
Continuous Assessment (quizzes, assignments, etc.)	60%	Assignment 20% Attendance 20 % Voc Quizzes 20%
Other
Remarks about grading		2 absences-OK; 3 absences-maximum grade is A; 4 absences-maximum grade is B; 5 absences maximum grade is C' 6th absence-meaning "no pass. This includes days spent job hunting and sick days.

Grading Method:ABC

Course Materials

　1．Zemach, D.E. and Islam C. (2005). Writing Paragraphs: From Sentence to Paragraph. Oxford: Macmillan. ISBN 978-0-230-41593-5

Reference Materials

Advice for Prospective Students

Since the course will train you to write good academic essays regular work is important. Please do a little bit of work every week and not everything at the very end.

Estimated Out-of-class Study Time Per Week (incl. assignments, tests, papers, etc) : 4hrs

Implementation of Active Learning

Yes

- Discussion and/or debate
- Others

Draft and write based on library and internet research

Will you use ICT for class or to support self-learning?

Yes

- Laptop or tablet device (mandatory).
- Others

Use PC room to print and draft

Language used in class

English

Instructor Profile

I have worked in English Academic Writing, Research Paper Writing, Journal Writing, American, British and Asian studies especially in the area of literature, foreign policy, history and the media. I am a creative writer and love to discuss issues connected with life and society with my students

Enrollment and Selection

Enrollment and Selection
The maximum number of students for the class is 20. Their TOEIC-IP scores are expected to be higher than 570. If the number of students is less than 20, students below 570 score may be allowed to take the class depending on their motivation.

Link URL：　 https://plas.soka.ac.jp/csp/plas/slb.csp?nd=2019&sm=2&mk=11&lc=94192