University of Kentucky—Center for ESL

Writing 6B Syllabus
Summer—2014

Instructor: Dr. Whitney Sarver

Office Address: 1675 Patterson Office Tower (POT)
Email: whitney.sarver@uky.edu
Office Phone: 859-257-6980
Office Hours: by appointment only

Course Objectives:
Activities and assignments focus on building academic writing skills for successful performance
in an American university. You will build on previous learning of grammar, sentence structures,
paragraph organization, and essay construction. You will also review documentation styles and
research for essay writing.

Student Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Compose and evaluate academic-level texts, with an emphasis on purpose, research, and
clear communication;
• Employ and combine various rhetorical styles and choices in order to compose effective
argument;
• Compose using the elements of the writing process;
• Compose, organize, evaluate, and revise multiple drafts;
• Use advanced academic and discipline-specific vocabulary, grammar, mechanics, and
sentence structures;
• Write sustained, complex compositions, employing various styles and structures with
clear purpose;
• Organize paragraphs with effect; write various types of compositions as needed in the
academic arena; accurately employ discipline-appropriate formal documentation.

Required Materials:
nd
• From Inquiry to Academic Writing: A Text and Reader, 2 ed. (ISBN: 978-0-312-60141-6)
• Any additional materials assigned by the instructor
• Paper, pen/pencil, and access to a computer and printer

Grading:
Grades will be based on the following:
• Major Writing Assignments 60%
• In-class writing/quizzes 10%
• Homework/drafts 10%
• Class participation 20%

Students who miss in-class writing and/or quizzes will not be allowed to make up those
assignments without an excused absence (see below for more information).
Class Participation means more than just coming to class. You must come to class, be on time,
have done readings or homework, and participate in all activities and discussions.

Attendance Policy:
There are some days when you are unable to come to class. Therefore, you will be allowed to
miss three (3) classes without any penalty to your grade. (This includes excused and unexcused.)
After 3 absences, your final grade will be lowered 5% for every additional unexcused absence. If
you are late, this will affect your grade also. Every three late arrivals (after I have taken
attendance) equal one unexcused absence. If you reach four (4) absences, the CESL student
advisor will be notified.

Please note: Students will receive an E if they miss more than 20 percent of class, whether
absences are excused or not excused. For this class, that means you will fail if you miss 7 or
more classes.

Excused Absences: The University defines the following as acceptable reasons excused
absences:
• Serious illness
• Illness or death of a family member
• University-related trips
• Major religious holidays
• Other circumstances the instructor finds to be “reasonable cause for nonattendance”

Academic Honesty:
I expect ALL work: homework, tests, quizzes, in-class writing and major writing, to be your own
work. This is especially important in writing. Plagiarism (presenting someone else’s work as
your own—or your own from another class) is a serious offense to your instructors, classmates,
and the university. It will not be tolerated. We will talk about how to avoid plagiarism in class,
but “not knowing” is not an excuse. If you have any question as to what constitutes cheating or
plagiarism, speak with your instructors or see http://www.uky.edu/Ombud/Plagiarism.pdf.

Classroom Behavior:
Our classroom is a safe place, where everyone should feel comfortable to study, learn, and share
their ideas. I expect everyone to behave with civility in all classroom situations. It is fine to
disagree with someone about their ideas or answers to questions; however, it is NOT fine to be
disrespectful. I also expect everyone to speak English at all times so that everyone can be
included in our learning and discussion opportunities.

Tentative Class Schedule:

The schedule for our class activities could change weekly according to the class’ needs.
Homework will be assigned according to what we are talking about in the chapter and what will
best benefit the members of the class. In addition, we will write in class almost every day. This
activity helps you improve your writing and practice the issues we have been talking about, as
well as helping you think in English.
The following schedule is tentative and may be changed at the discretion of the instructor. The
Readings and Assignments are due on the date that they are listed.
Week Date Topic Readings and Assignments Due

1 6/11 Introduction to Class

6/12 Inquiry and Academic Writing Read p. 1-14 (found on Bb or in

textbook)

2 6/16 Literacy Narratives (Assignment 1) Read p. 15-26 (found on Bb or in

textbook)

6/17 Literacy Narratives and Discussion of Assignment 1 (Literacy Narrative:

Rhetorical Analysis (Assignment 2) steps 1 & 2, p. 27) due

6/18 Reading as a Writer Read p. 29-41

6/19 Writing as a Reader Read p. 41-50

3 6/23 Peer Review First Draft of Assignment 2

(Rhetorical Analysis) due in class

6/24 Identifying Claims Read p. 51-57

6/25 Analyzing Arguments Read p. 58-72

6/26 Revision

4 6/30 Rhetorical Analyses and Discussion of FINAL draft of Assignment 2

Proposal (Assignment 3) (Rhetorical Analysis) due in class

7/1 Identifying Issues Read p. 73-85

7/2 Forming Questions Read p. 85-98

7/3 Peer Review First Draft of Assignment 3

(Proposal) due

5 7/7 Formulating and Developing a Thesis Read p. 99-119

7/8 Revision

7/9 Flex Day

7/10 Proposal and Discussion of Annotated FINAL Draft of Assignment 3

Bibliography (Assignment 4) (Proposal) due

6 7/14 Finding Sources Read p. 120-132

7/15 Evaluating Sources Read p. 132-138

Week Date Topic Readings and Assignments Due

6 7/16 From Summary to Synthesis Read p. 139-180

7/17 Avoiding Plagiarism Read p. 180-198

7 7/21 Annotated Bibliographies and ONLY Draft of Assignment 4

Discussion of Research Paper (Annotated Bibliography) Due
(Assignment 5)

7/22 Ethos, Pathos, and Logos Read p. 199-218

7/23 Logical Fallacies Read p. 218-236

7/24 Drafting Day

8 7/28 Peer Review First Draft of Assignment 5

(Research Paper) due

7/29 Introductions Read p. 247-253

7/30 Body Paragraphs Read p. 254-266

7/31 Body Paragraphs, continued

9 8/4 Conclusions Read p. 266-272

8/5 Individual Meetings with Instructor

8/6 Individual Meetings with Instructor

8/7 Research Paper Presentations FINAL Draft of Assignment 5

(Research Paper) Due

Saturday, August 9, TOEFL

Blackboard Access:
The syllabus, materials, assignments, and schedule for this class are available on the course
Blackboard page. You must use your LinkBlue ID to have access to this page.

Communication:
If you have questions or concerns about this class, please speak with me. We can talk after class,
during my office hours, or over e-mail. Please remember to check your e-mail frequently; it is
the main way that I have to contact you when we are not in class.