課程介紹
This semester-long course introduces first-year MA students to the elements of scholarly writing in humanities. From formulating a research question to marshalling a wide variety of primary and secondary sources to writing up research findings, the instructor will guide participants through the process of composing a research paper based on a topic of their interest. We will consider, among other things, the conventions of scholarly writing (such as citational practices), the key to a clear and concise writing style, the research resources, the basic yet essential writing skills (such as summarizing and paraphrasing), and the structures, meta-discourses and rhetorical modes which govern the production of a good piece of writing. Throughout the semester students are expected to read a wide range of materials and engage in weekly writing tasks intended not only to complete the final writing assignment of this course but also to develop the professional writing skills necessary for the success of their MA theses.
Course Objectives
1) become familiar with the conventions of scholarly writing in humanities
2) learn how to summarize, paraphrase and cite sources with accuracy and concision while articulating their voices and arguments
3) develop analytical and critical skills in academic writing
4) have completed a series of writing tasks leading to the completion of a substantial piece of research paper
5) have a better understanding of the steps involved in writing a research paper
2) learn how to summarize, paraphrase and cite sources with accuracy and concision while articulating their voices and arguments
3) develop analytical and critical skills in academic writing
4) have completed a series of writing tasks leading to the completion of a substantial piece of research paper
5) have a better understanding of the steps involved in writing a research paper
Grades
10% Oral Presentations (Two Oral Presentations)
5 % Conference Presentation
15% attendance and participation
20% Research Journal (Including your critiques of the primary and secondary texts)
50% Research Paper (a paper of 2000-2500 words to be submitted by 1/9; first draft is due by 12/2)
Your paper will be graded by the following criteria
A. Articulate a clear argument/position
B. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the topic
C. Demonstrate subject knowledge in a logical structure
D. Contain relevant and sufficient support for claim(s) or point(s) made.
E. Offer adequate analysis of the primary texts.
F. Appropriate use of citations for quotes and materials consulted
G. Clarity of Writing (Grammar, Sentence Structure, Punctuation and Style)
10% Oral Presentations (Two Oral Presentations)
5 % Conference Presentation
15% attendance and participation
20% Research Journal (Including your critiques of the primary and secondary texts)
50% Research Paper (a paper of 2000-2500 words to be submitted by 1/9; first draft is due by 12/2)
Your paper will be graded by the following criteria
A. Articulate a clear argument/position
B. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the topic
C. Demonstrate subject knowledge in a logical structure
D. Contain relevant and sufficient support for claim(s) or point(s) made.
E. Offer adequate analysis of the primary texts.
F. Appropriate use of citations for quotes and materials consulted
G. Clarity of Writing (Grammar, Sentence Structure, Punctuation and Style)
教科書:
Style Lessons in Clarity and Grace (11th Edition)
The Elements of Academic Style: Writing For The Humanities by Eric Hayot
MLA Handbook (8th Edition)
Photocopied Materials
The Elements of Academic Style: Writing For The Humanities by Eric Hayot
MLA Handbook (8th Edition)
Photocopied Materials
教學進度:
Week 1 (9/12)
Introduction
Topic: What is a dissertation/thesis? What professional skills an MA lit student should possess?
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 9/17)
Week 2(9/19)
Topic: Finding a Topic
“Finding a Topic” from Writing Research Paper: A Complete Guide (pp. 10-30);
“Writing Effective Notes” (pp. 145-155)
Class activity: Journal Reports
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 9/24)
Week 3 (9/26)
Topic: Summaries
“Writing Summaries” (pp. 147-179)
“Selecting the Research Topic” from The Graduate Students’ Guide to Theses and Dissertations (pp. 11-27);
Class activity: Journal Reports
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 10/1) Summary Assignment: (Due 10/1)
Week 4 (10/3)
Topic: Critiques:
“Organizing Ideas and Setting Goals”, Writing Research Paper: A Complete Guide (pp. 31-39); “Writing Critiques”, pp. 180-214
Class activity: Journal Reports
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 10/8)
Critique Assignment: (Due 10/8)
Week 5 (10/10) Holiday
Week 6 (10/17)
Topic: MLA
“Documentation: (Part I of the MLA Handbook)
Class activity: Journal Reports
Annotated bibliography assignment: (Due 10/22)
Week 7 (10/24)
Topic: Literature Review
“Introduction” to The Literature Review, pp. 1-20.
Class activity: Journal Reports
Annotated bibliography assignment: (Due 10/29)
Week 8 (10/31)
Topic: Research Proposal
“Writing the Proposal” from Writing a Graduate Thesis or Dissertation (pp. 23-30)
“Documentation: Citing Sources in the Text” (Part II of the MLA Handbook)
“Research Proposal” from The Graduate Students’ Guide to Theses and Dissertations
(pp. 33-42),
Class activity: Journal Reports
Literature Review assignment: (Due 11/5)
Week 9 (11/7) No Class
(Research Proposal assignment): (Due 11/7)
Week 10 (11/14)
Class Activity: Presentations on your research proposal
Giving feedback on research proposal
(First draft of your research paper): (Due 12/2)
Week 11 (11/21) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: The Uneven U, pp. 59-80
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Lessons 1-2
Week 12 (11/28) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: Citational Practice (pp.151-163),
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Lessons 3-4, and Rhetorical Questions and Clauses (pp.191-195)
Citational Practice Assignment: (Due 12/3)
Week 13 (12/5)
Topic: Punctuations (Parentheticals)
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Lessons 5-6,
Giving Feedback on your first draft of research paper
Week 14 (12/12)
Topic: Thesis and Thesis statement, pp. 634-637;
Class Activity: Oral Presentations Pronoun and Repetition
Thesis Assignment: (Due: 12/17)
Week 15 (12/19)
Topic: Writing an Academic Title, pp. 171-72; Titles and Subtitles, pp.140-41;
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Ending Well, pp. 130-139.
Title Assignment: (Due 12/24)
Week 16 (12/26)
Topic: Writing an Abstract and Conference Presentation
Abstract Assignment: (Due 12/31)
Oral Presentations on
Week 17 (1/2) Oral Presentations
Week 18 (1/9) Research Paper Due
Introduction
Topic: What is a dissertation/thesis? What professional skills an MA lit student should possess?
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 9/17)
Week 2(9/19)
Topic: Finding a Topic
“Finding a Topic” from Writing Research Paper: A Complete Guide (pp. 10-30);
“Writing Effective Notes” (pp. 145-155)
Class activity: Journal Reports
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 9/24)
Week 3 (9/26)
Topic: Summaries
“Writing Summaries” (pp. 147-179)
“Selecting the Research Topic” from The Graduate Students’ Guide to Theses and Dissertations (pp. 11-27);
Class activity: Journal Reports
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 10/1) Summary Assignment: (Due 10/1)
Week 4 (10/3)
Topic: Critiques:
“Organizing Ideas and Setting Goals”, Writing Research Paper: A Complete Guide (pp. 31-39); “Writing Critiques”, pp. 180-214
Class activity: Journal Reports
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 10/8)
Critique Assignment: (Due 10/8)
Week 5 (10/10) Holiday
Week 6 (10/17)
Topic: MLA
“Documentation: (Part I of the MLA Handbook)
Class activity: Journal Reports
Annotated bibliography assignment: (Due 10/22)
Week 7 (10/24)
Topic: Literature Review
“Introduction” to The Literature Review, pp. 1-20.
Class activity: Journal Reports
Annotated bibliography assignment: (Due 10/29)
Week 8 (10/31)
Topic: Research Proposal
“Writing the Proposal” from Writing a Graduate Thesis or Dissertation (pp. 23-30)
“Documentation: Citing Sources in the Text” (Part II of the MLA Handbook)
“Research Proposal” from The Graduate Students’ Guide to Theses and Dissertations
(pp. 33-42),
Class activity: Journal Reports
Literature Review assignment: (Due 11/5)
Week 9 (11/7) No Class
(Research Proposal assignment): (Due 11/7)
Week 10 (11/14)
Class Activity: Presentations on your research proposal
Giving feedback on research proposal
(First draft of your research paper): (Due 12/2)
Week 11 (11/21) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: The Uneven U, pp. 59-80
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Lessons 1-2
Week 12 (11/28) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: Citational Practice (pp.151-163),
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Lessons 3-4, and Rhetorical Questions and Clauses (pp.191-195)
Citational Practice Assignment: (Due 12/3)
Week 13 (12/5)
Topic: Punctuations (Parentheticals)
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Lessons 5-6,
Giving Feedback on your first draft of research paper
Week 14 (12/12)
Topic: Thesis and Thesis statement, pp. 634-637;
Class Activity: Oral Presentations Pronoun and Repetition
Thesis Assignment: (Due: 12/17)
Week 15 (12/19)
Topic: Writing an Academic Title, pp. 171-72; Titles and Subtitles, pp.140-41;
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Ending Well, pp. 130-139.
Title Assignment: (Due 12/24)
Week 16 (12/26)
Topic: Writing an Abstract and Conference Presentation
Abstract Assignment: (Due 12/31)
Oral Presentations on
Week 17 (1/2) Oral Presentations
Week 18 (1/9) Research Paper Due
本課程不開放報名
