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.
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 (9/10)
Introduction
Topic: What is a dissertation? What professional skills an MA lit student should possess?
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 9/15)
Week 2(9/17)
Topic: Finding a Topic
Readings: “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 9/22)
Week 3 (9/24)
Topic: Summaries
Readings: “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 9/29); Summary Assignment: Harold Bloom’s The Anxiety of Influence (Due 9/29)
Week 4 (10/1)
Topic: Critiques:
Readings: “Writing Critiques”, pp. 180-214
Class activity: 1) Discussion of the summary assignment 2) Journal Reports
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 10/6); Critique Assignment:
Week 5 (10/8)
Topic: “Organizing Ideas and Setting Goals”, Writing Research Paper: A Complete Guide (pp. 31-39); Thesis and Thesis statement, pp. 634-637;
Class activity: 1) Discussion of the Critique Assignment; 2) Journal Reports
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 10/13)
Week 6 (10/15)
Topic: MLA
Readings: “Documentation: (Part I of the MLA Handbook)
Class activity: Journal Reports
Annotated bibliography assignment: (Due 10/20)
Week 7 (10/22)
Topic: Literature Review
Readings: “Introduction” to The Literature Review, pp. 1-20.
Class activity: Journal Reports
Annotated bibliography assignment: (Due 10/27)
Week 8 (10/29)
Topic: Research Proposal
Readings: “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 11/3)
Week 9 (11/5) No Class
(Research Proposal assignment): (Due 11/5)
Week 10 (11/12)
Class Activity: Presentations on your research proposal
Giving feedback on research proposal
(First draft of your research paper): (Due 11/26)
Week 11 (11/19) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: The Uneven U (pp. 59-80)
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Lessons 1-3
The Uneven U Assignment: (Due 11/24)
Week 12 (11/26) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: Introductions (pp. 89-98)
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Lessons 4-6
Introduction Assignment: (Due 12/1)
Week 13 (12/3) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: Sentence Rhythm (pp. 196-202)
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Pronoun (pp. 184-187), Parentheticals (pp.180-183) and Rhetorical Questions and Clauses (pp.191-195)
Giving Feedback on your first draft of research paper
Writing Assignment (Due 12/8)
Week 14 (12/10) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: Citational Practice (pp.151-163)
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Three Types of Transitions (pp. 107-115), Repetition (pp. 188-190), and Ventilation (pp. 203-207)
Citation Assignment: (Due: 12/15)
Week 15 (12/17) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: Ending Well (pp. 130-139)
Class Activity: Writing an Academic Title, pp. 171-72; Titles and Subtitles, pp.140-41;
Title and Conclusion Assignment (Due 12/22)
Week 16 (12/24)
Topic: Writing an Abstract and Conference Presentation
Reading: Conference Talk
Abstract Assignment: (Due 12/29)
Week 17 (12/31) Oral Presentations
Week 18 (1/7) Research Paper Due
Introduction
Topic: What is a dissertation? What professional skills an MA lit student should possess?
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 9/15)
Week 2(9/17)
Topic: Finding a Topic
Readings: “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 9/22)
Week 3 (9/24)
Topic: Summaries
Readings: “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 9/29); Summary Assignment: Harold Bloom’s The Anxiety of Influence (Due 9/29)
Week 4 (10/1)
Topic: Critiques:
Readings: “Writing Critiques”, pp. 180-214
Class activity: 1) Discussion of the summary assignment 2) Journal Reports
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 10/6); Critique Assignment:
Week 5 (10/8)
Topic: “Organizing Ideas and Setting Goals”, Writing Research Paper: A Complete Guide (pp. 31-39); Thesis and Thesis statement, pp. 634-637;
Class activity: 1) Discussion of the Critique Assignment; 2) Journal Reports
Research Journal Assignment: (Due 10/13)
Week 6 (10/15)
Topic: MLA
Readings: “Documentation: (Part I of the MLA Handbook)
Class activity: Journal Reports
Annotated bibliography assignment: (Due 10/20)
Week 7 (10/22)
Topic: Literature Review
Readings: “Introduction” to The Literature Review, pp. 1-20.
Class activity: Journal Reports
Annotated bibliography assignment: (Due 10/27)
Week 8 (10/29)
Topic: Research Proposal
Readings: “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 11/3)
Week 9 (11/5) No Class
(Research Proposal assignment): (Due 11/5)
Week 10 (11/12)
Class Activity: Presentations on your research proposal
Giving feedback on research proposal
(First draft of your research paper): (Due 11/26)
Week 11 (11/19) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: The Uneven U (pp. 59-80)
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Lessons 1-3
The Uneven U Assignment: (Due 11/24)
Week 12 (11/26) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: Introductions (pp. 89-98)
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Lessons 4-6
Introduction Assignment: (Due 12/1)
Week 13 (12/3) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: Sentence Rhythm (pp. 196-202)
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Pronoun (pp. 184-187), Parentheticals (pp.180-183) and Rhetorical Questions and Clauses (pp.191-195)
Giving Feedback on your first draft of research paper
Writing Assignment (Due 12/8)
Week 14 (12/10) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: Citational Practice (pp.151-163)
Class Activity: Oral Presentations on Three Types of Transitions (pp. 107-115), Repetition (pp. 188-190), and Ventilation (pp. 203-207)
Citation Assignment: (Due: 12/15)
Week 15 (12/17) Style Lessons and Writing Tactics
Topic: Ending Well (pp. 130-139)
Class Activity: Writing an Academic Title, pp. 171-72; Titles and Subtitles, pp.140-41;
Title and Conclusion Assignment (Due 12/22)
Week 16 (12/24)
Topic: Writing an Abstract and Conference Presentation
Reading: Conference Talk
Abstract Assignment: (Due 12/29)
Week 17 (12/31) Oral Presentations
Week 18 (1/7) Research Paper Due
| Evaluation | ||||
| 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 1/6; first draft is due by 11/26) 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) You should type and submit your assignments electronically on time. There is a 10 point penalty for each day late. Any homework that is copied from another source will receive a ‘0’. |
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