WORKSHOP IN ESSAY WRITING

ENG1100, Sections A, D, and ZZ

ONLINE
FALL 2023: SEPTEMBER 6 TO DECEMBER 6

Professor: Ruth Bradley-St-Cyr, rbradley@uottawa.ca

OFFICE HOURS BY APPOINTMENT VIA ZOOM

Section A: Mon 8:30–10:00 am; Thurs 10:00–11:30 am ONLINE

Section D: Wed 8:30–10:00 am; Mon 10:00–11:30 am ONLINE
Section ZZ: Tues 5:30–7:00 pm; Thurs 5:30–7:00 pm ONLINE

Scope/Approach: We will study the writing of academic essays with an

emphasis on solid argumentation; good organization; clear expression; and
thorough research, editing, and proofreading. This course provides a practical
introduction to research methods coupled with writing experience. We also focus
on building 21st-century skills.

Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, students should be able to work
independently to devise and sustain arguments using evidence derived from
research and the basic principles of logic; to write more clearly, efficiently, and
correctly; to recognize and work in an academic rhetorical context, and to adopt
the most effective written means; to write persuasively under the pressures of
time and other constraints; to recognize the limits of their own knowledge; to
tolerate and respond creatively to the uncertainty and ambiguity of scholarly
work and knowledge; to be aware of and responsive to alternative points of view;
and to recognize the collaborative nature of knowledge production.

Required Textbook:
Speaking of Writing: A Brief Rhetoric
by Allegra Goodman and Michael Prince
Available in Ottawa from Benjamin Books or online from
the publisher: Print $45.75; eBook $31.42
Recommended Texts (available from Benjamin Books):
1. Canadian Oxford Dictionary
2. Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Russ
3. The Elements of Style by Strunk & White
Recommended Website: HyperGrammar
GRADING
Diagnostic Questionnaire Due September 16 N/A
Group Essay Due September 30 10%
Quizzes on the textbook Throughout term 10%
Quizzes on the readings Throughout term 10%
Midterm 1 October 10–12 10%
Topic Defence Due November 4 10%
Midterm 2 November 13–16 15%
Research Essay Due December 2 30%
Midterm 3 December 4–5 5%
EXIT SURVEY December 4–5 BONUS 5%

Please underline your thesis statement in all essays and exams.

Provide a word count for all assignments.
Please wait 48 hours before asking to discuss any grade received.

Due Dates: Submission deadlines are geared to our marking deadlines and cannot be
moved. All assignments must be submitted via BRIGHTSPACE. Please email the
professor if an emergency interferes with meeting a deadline. The last day to submit
work is December 8.

GENERAL INFORMATION
The University of Ottawa does not tolerate any form of sexual violence. Sexual violence
is any act of a sexual nature committed without consent, such as rape, sexual
harassment, or online harassment. The university and its student and employee
associations offer a full range of resources and services, confidential assistance, and a
procedure to report an incident or make a complaint. For more information, visit
https://www.uottawa.ca/about-us/respect/sexual-violence-support-and-prevention.

Academic Accommodations: https://www2.uottawa.ca/study/academic-

support/accommodation-services-available
Contributes to an inclusive environment by developing strategies and implementing
measures to reduce barriers to learning for students with learning disabilities, health,
psychiatric, or physical conditions.

Health and Wellness: https://www2.uottawa.ca/campus-life/health-wellness

and https://www.uottawa.ca/campus-life/health-wellness/getting-help-students
Serves uOttawa students and others. Register with a family doctor, get counselling or
use the walk-in clinic (phone triage first).

Mentoring: https://www.uottawa.ca/study/academic-support
Are you experiencing academic problems? Academic GPS has devoted student mentors,
workshops, study groups, and various study skills tips available online.

Student Resource Centres: https://www.uottawa.ca/campus-activities/

Your hub for social activities and all sorts of student needs.
 ASSIGNMENTS
Diagnostic Questionnaire, Due Sept. 16
All ENG1100 students must complete a diagnostic. We do not expect you to spend more
than an hour on this assignment.
Group Essay, maximum 300 words per student, Due Sept. 30
You and your group will write one paragraph each of a collective essay with a clear
thesis statement and supporting arguments.
Topic Defence, minimum 1,000 words for all 3 parts, Due Nov. 4
There are three parts to this assignment: 1) an argument explaining why the topic you
chose is important to you (min. 500 words); 2) a one-page outline for your Research
Essay; and 3) an annotated bibliography of at least three scholarly sources that you will
use in your Research Essay (100–150 words each). Peer review is required. This
assignment MUST be approved before the Research Essay is accepted.
Peer Review, Essay due Nov. 27 to your peers; Peer review due Nov. 29
Using the forms provided, you will peer review the Research Essays of two classmates
and receive a peer review of your essay from two classmates. This assignment MUST be
submitted before the Research Essay is accepted.
Research Essay, minimum 1,500 words, maximum 2,500 words, PLUS
References/Works Cited, PLUS response to peer review, Due December 2
This essay will be on a topic of your choice. Research must include at least one
illustration and three academic journal articles. You must use in-text citations and a
References/Works Cited section. The Research Essay is only accepted if your Topic
Defence has been approved and your peer review has been submitted.

MIDTERMS
Midterm 1 (80-minute online quiz), October 10–12
Based on lectures 1–9, Midterm 1 will be available for 3 days. It is a timed exam that
must be done in one sitting.
Midterm 2 (collaborative with your study group), November 13–16
Based on Chapter 2 of our textbook plus a short essay reading and questions given on
November 12, Midterm 2 is like the Group Essay. After you do the reading and make
notes, then you discuss and write collaboratively with your study group.
Midterm 3 (80-minute online quiz), December 4–5
Based on lectures 10–16, Midterm 3 will be available for 2 days. It is a timed exam that
must be done in one sitting.
 Class Schedule
Synchronous (you must show up)
Week 1 Online Lecture (Sept. 11th @ 8:30 am or 10:00 am; 12th @ 5:30 pm)
Week 2 (Sept. 18/19/21) – ZOOM: Meet your study group
Week 3 (Sept. 25/26/28) – Study Group: Group Essay meeting
Week 4 (Oct. 2/3/5) – ZOOM: “Kraft Dinner is Canada’s True National Dish”
Week 6 (Oct. 16/17/19) – ZOOM: “Where Have All the Criminals Gone?”

READING WEEK – October 21–29

Week 7 (Oct. 30/31/Nov. 2) – Study Group: Peer Review each other’s Topic Defence
Week 8 (Nov. 6/7/9) – ZOOM: “Student Vulnerability, Agency & Learning Analytics”
Week 9 (Nov. 13–16) – Study Group: Midterm 2 collaborative
Week 10 (Nov. 20/21/23) – ZOOM: “A Modest Proposal”
Week 11 (Nov. 27–30) – Study Group: Peer Review each other’s Research Essays

Week 11 Essay Q&A (Nov. 27th @ 8:30 am or 10:00 am; 28th @ 5:30 pm)

Asynchronous (you must do these on your own)

Week 1 – Diagnostic Questionnaire; Watch “What Does My Headscarf Mean to You?” and take
part in the discussion forum
Week 2 – Watch Lectures 2, 3, & 4; READ: Chapters 1 & 2
Week 3 – Watch Lectures 5, 6, & 7; READ: “The Problem with Argumentative Writing”;
“Predatory journals: No definition, no defence”; Chapters 5 & 6; READ: “Kraft Dinner is
Canada’s True National Dish”
Week 4 – Watch Lectures 8 & 9; READ: “15 Logical Fallacies You Should Know Before Getting
into a Debate”; “Fighting a Rising ‘Infodemic’”; “Elegy in Stone”; Chapter 7
Week 5 (Oct. 10–12) – Midterm 1 online; READ: “Where Have All the Criminals Gone?”

READING WEEK – October 21–29

Week 7 – READ: Chapters 3 & 4; READ: “Student Vulnerability, Agency & Learning Analytics”
Week 8 – Watch Lectures 15 & 16; READ: “In academia, we need two types of researchers”;
Chapter 8
Week 9 – Watch Lectures 10 & 11; READ: “Integrity in Writing: Avoiding Plagiarism”; Chapter 9;
READ: “A Modest Proposal”
Week 10 – Watch Lectures 12, 13 & 14; READ: Chapter 10
Week 11 – Research Essay prep
Week 12 (Dec. 4–5) – Midterm 3 online
 WRITING RESOURCES
Arts Writing Centre: This centre is specifically for ENG1100 students:
https://arts.uottawa.ca/writingcentre/en

University of Ottawa Library: There is a special ENG1100 section of the website for
research help: https://uottawa.libguides.com/research-essay-writing.

Grammar Girl: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl

Mignon Fogarty’s resource for sorting out tricky grammar issues.

The Comma Queen: https://video.newyorker.com/series/comma-queen

Short videos from Mary Norris, head proofreader of The New Yorker magazine.

Purdue University OWL:

The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue has a great resource for referencing:
APA (USED IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES):
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_a
nd_style_guide/general_format.html
MLA (USED IN ARTS AND LANGUAGES):
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_a
nd_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html
CHICAGO (USED IN HISTORY):
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/chicago_manual_17th_editio
n/cmos_formatting_and_style_guide/chicago_manual_of_style_17th_edition.html

Plagiarism/Academic Integrity: Forms of academic fraud include improper, missing,

or made-up bibliographical information, passing off others’ work as one’s own, recycling
assignments for which one has already received credit in another course, and group
work when individual work is required. Failure to comply may result in a zero grade for
the assignment and other penalties, including expulsion. Please consult the following
website for more information:

https://www.uottawa.ca/library/writing-citing/avoid-plagiarism-academic-fraud