WRTG112 Introduction to Academic Writing II
Week 1 Discussion
DQ1 Thinking About Experience and Goals
WRTG 112 is a required course for all students, so that is probably one reason you are taking it. However, we all have individual backgrounds and goals that affect how we approach a learning experience. Read over the course syllabus, and then post your responses to the following questions in two paragraphs:
What prior experiences do you have that inform how you approach this class? This could be, for example, writing experience that you think will either help or hurt you as you work on the academic essays assigned in class.
What are some of your aspirations (educational, professional, or other goals) that you can work toward by taking Introduction to Writing, and how might this course help you on your path toward your goals? Which, if any, of the reasons for taking college courses discussed by Michelle Singletary in “Getting to the Real Point of College” apply to you?
DQ2 Personal Grammar Challenges
Each week in WRTG 112, we will have a brief lesson on a grammar or punctuation topic, and you will be encouraged to apply the lesson to your own writing. At the same time, you can be working toward your own goals for improved mastery of grammar and punctuation.
Initial post (by Wednesday):
Identify at least one area of grammar or punctuation in which you think you have room for improvement. How could you work towards the goal of improving in this area? Answer in one paragraph.
 
WRTG112 Introduction to Academic Writing II
Week 2 Discussion
DQ1 Your Research Topic and Question
The Issue Exploration assignment helps students to select a research topic and begin to moving toward a more specific research question. In this discussion, work with your classmates on identifying a research question that is neither too broad nor too narrow.
Initial post (by Wednesday):
After reviewing “Your Research Question,” consider potential questions you may want to answer with your research. Post your topic and possible research question(s) here.
DQ2 Making Choices About Sentence Boundaries
In every paragraph we write, we make choices about sentence boundaries: Where will we place a period and start a new sentence? Where might we consider using semicolons to connect related independent clauses? Where will we join ideas together in a compound sentence? In this week’s grammar discussion, along with your peers, you will think about these questions in relation to your own writing.
Initial post (by Wednesday):
Post a draft of a paragraph for your first assignment. Identify at least one sentence boundary choice you made, and comment on the reasons for that choice and possible alternatives.
Example of an initial post:
When I was seventeen years old and a senior in high school, I had an experience that deeply affected my learning for many years to come: I failed a paper for the first time. Okay, I didn’t exactly fail, but I got a D, which felt like failing. The grade was unexpected, it affected me like a slap in the face. It was only through the encouragement of the very teacher who gave me the D that I was able to persevere with a more determined attitude than ever.
I made a choice to use a colon after “an experience that deeply affected my learning for many years to come.” I did that because the next sentence describes that experience, and the colon lets readers know that description is coming. I could have used a period instead, but I think that seems choppier. It would look like this: “When I was seventeen years old and a senior in high school, I had an experience that deeply affected my learning for many years to come. I failed a paper for the first time.”
 
WRTG112 Introduction to Academic Writing II
Week 3 Discussion
DQ1 Identifying and Evaluating Sources
For this discussion topic, you will post four sources that you consider possible sources for your research project. At least two of these should be scholarly journal articles.
For each source, please post your answers to the following:
Provide an APA-style reference citation for the source. Remember that you can use CiteFast if you wish.
What type of document is the source (journal article, news article, government document, etc.), and how can you tell?
When considering the usefulness of this source for your research project, what positive and/or negative features can you identify? Factors you may wish to consider include focus, credibility, detail, and audience.
Optional question: Feel free to comment on what search strategies you employed to find your sources.
DQ2 Making Choices About Commas
Post a paragraph from any writing you have done recently. Then identify one choice you made with regard to commas (either using a comma or not using a comma). Comment on the reasons for your choice. Are there other alternatives for punctuating the sentence that you might consider?
 
 
 
 
 
WRTG112 Introduction to Academic Writing II
Week 4 Discussion
DQ1 Post Your Working Thesis Statement and Sentence Outline
Post your working thesis statement and sentence outline here. Make sure that each topic sentence in your outline has a transition and uses words that tie it in with the thesis statement.
DQ2 Using Apostrophes in Your Writing
Post a sentence from any of your own recent writing that used or should have used an apostrophe. Did you use the apostrophe correctly? Please explain.
 
WRTG112 Introduction to Academic Writing II
Week 5 Discussion
DQ1 Developing a Body Paragraph
For this discussion, you will develop one BODY paragraph of your research essay. Your paragraph will begin with one of the topic sentences from your sentence outline. (Feel free to revise the topic sentence if you think it would be beneficial.) It will then provide major and minor details to develop the idea in the topic sentence. Consider where evidence from your sources will help support your ideas, and make sure you comment on the evidence to show how it supports the topic sentence. Post your paragraph here.
Guided response (by Friday):
Choose a paragraph posted by one of your peers. Then find an example of evidence used in the paragraph and consider it in light of the reading on Using Evidence. What characteristics of weak or strong evidence, or of effective or ineffective quotation do you observe? Please be constructive in your comments, so that if you find areas for improvement, you point them out respectfully and include suggestions for more effective use of evidence.
DQ2 Other Punctuation Marks
Initial post (by Wednesday):
Which punctuation marks do you think are most difficult to use correctly? Why? What might you do to help remember the rules for these punctuation marks or to make effective choices about these punctuation marks?
Guided response (by Friday):
Choose a classmate’s post about a punctuation marks, and find an example of effective use of that punctuation marks. The example could come from your own writing or from outside published writing. Quote the example and explain what is effective about the punctuation choice.
 
 
 
WRTG112 Introduction to Academic Writing II
Week 6 Discussion
DQ1 Expectations in Context
The article “Young Writer With a Following Admits Fabricating Dylan Quotes in Book” describes the situation of Jonah Lehrer, a writer who violated expectations regarding the integrity of his work.
Expectations for writers can vary from one context to another. In WRTG 112, we have been studying how to use sources in a research paper. In this discussion, we will explore how the expectations for college research writing are similar and/or different from expectations in other writing contexts.
Initial post (by Wednesday):
Respond to the following in 1-2 paragraphs.
Summarize the expectations for use of sources in a college research paper, as you understand them.
In what ways are these expectations similar to or different from expectations you have observed in other contexts, such as workplace, personal, or journalistic writing? You might use observations from your reading about Jonah Lehrer in addition to personal experience in your response.
Guided response (by Friday):
Respond to at least of your classmates. Are there areas in which your understanding differs from theirs? What can you add to their observations?
DQ2 Using Pronouns Effectively
Initial post (by Wednesday):
Post one paragraph from any of your recent writing, and do the following:
Identify all pronouns in your paragraph. Remember that pronouns include personal pronouns like “she,” “her,” and “it”; indefinite pronouns like “everyone,” “each,” and “all”; and relative pronouns like “that” and “which.”
Identify the antecedent of each pronoun in your paragraph. The antecedent is the noun to which the pronoun refers.
If you found any of the three types of pronoun problems—unclear pronoun reference, vague subject pronoun, or agreement error—in your paragraph, identify the problem and revise the problematic sentence.
Guided response (by Friday):
In response to one of your peers:
Identify any additional pronoun problems you observed in the paragraph.
Provide suggestions to improve the use of pronouns in the paragraph.
 
 
WRTG112 Introduction to Academic Writing II
Week 7 Discussion
DQ1 Coherence in Your Writing
This week, we have studied coherence — the flow from one idea to the next — in writing. Let’s practice introducing and recognizing coherence. We looked at four specific ways of improving coherence:
Transitional words and phrases
Internet users do not always think about how their internet data is being used. Nonetheless, collecting and using data about search habits is big business.
Repetition of key works and phrases
Companies are able to track the searches made by various demographics and use data about these searches to target advertisements to likely customers. Customers will see advertisements that match their interests, but they have give up some privacy in return.
Pronoun reference
For some customers, this loss of privacy is acceptable, while others are deeply concerned.
Parallelism
Customers may worry about their search data getting into the wrong hands or about further intrusion into their private lives.
Initial post (by Wednesday):
Select one paragraph of your research paper draft and examine it for examples of the above four coherence tools. If you do not find at least two of the tools in use, revise your paragraph so that it uses at least two of the tools. Post your paragraph here. Do not identify the coherence tools you used; you will be analyzing each other’s paragraphs in your guided response.
Guided response (by Friday):
Choose the paragraph posted by one of your peers, and try to identify the use of at least two coherence tools. Mention any ideas you have for improved coherence in the paragraph.
DQ2 Parallel Structure
Initial post (by Wednesday):
This week we have looked at the use of parallel structure in a list. You have seen several examples of sentences with lists that do not use parallel structure and thought about how to revise them. As you look back at some of those sentences, what effect do you think that parallel structure has? Does it make sentences easier to understand? Does it make the sentences sound more rhythmic? Or would you argue that parallel structure is not that important? Answer in a paragraph, and quote sentences that do or do not use parallel structure in your response.
Guided response (by Friday):
Respond to the point of view expressed in at least one other person’s post. Do you share the person’s point of view? Why or why not?
 
WRTG112 Introduction to Academic Writing II
Week 8 Discussion
DQ1 Thinking about Challenges and Achievements
In “How I Found the Time for Reflective Learning,” Dr. Richard Eve explains why he believes reflection is important to his practice as a surgeon and how he fits reflection into his busy life. Reflection is a beneficial skill for a variety of learners, tasks, and goals. As we near the end of the course, it is useful to look back and consider what was learned and how it was learned, as well as what challenges arose. This reflection will help you make the most of your learning in WRTG 112 and can inform how you approach future courses and writing endeavors.
You may wish to refer to the reading “How I Found the Time for Reflective Learning” in your responses to this discussion.
Initial post (by Wednesday):
Respond to the following in 2-3 paragraphs:
(1) What challenges did you face in our course, and how did you handle them? Would you respond differently to those challenges in future courses?
(2) Has your attitude towards writing changed during this course? Why or why not?
(3) Consider the aspirations you identified in Week 1. As the course nears an end, do you believe your learning in Introduction to Writing has been effective in helping you move toward your goals? Why or why not? You might mention aspects of your way of working in the course and/or elements of the course itself.
Guided response (by Friday):
Introspection is valuable in developing ourselves, but we cannot discount the value of learning from those around us. Select at least one peer and comment on what aspects of that person’s experience were instructive or helpful for you. How did the person help you think about things in a different way?
DQ2 Using Active and Passive Voice
Initial post (by Wednesday):
Post one paragraph from your recent writing that contains a sentence in passive voice. Remember that in a passive voice, the subject of the sentence does not do an action; the subject of the sentence is acted upon.
Example: The meeting minutes are written by a different committee member each week.
In this passive sentence, the subject, “minutes,” does not do any writing. The minutes are written by committee members.
Then respond to the following:
Rewrite your sentence in active voice.
Example: A different committee member writes the meeting minutes each week.
Given the meaning and context of your particular sentence, which version is more effective: the active or the passive? Explain your answer.
Guided response (by Friday):
Respond to at least one of your peers. What feedback or suggestions do you have related to the use of active and/or passive in your classmate’s post?
 
 
WRTG112 Introduction to Academic Writing II
Assignment 1 Issue Exploration
Task:  Identify a news article that discusses a current event or social issue that relates to your field of study. Follow the instructions below to explain the issue, provide an additional example of the issue, connect the issue to your field of study, and pose questions about the issue.
Source: One news article, available through the UMUC library, published within the past 12 months.
Due date and grading: This assignment is due by the end of Week 2. It will be graded with a rubric and will count for 10% of your course grade. To view the grading rubric, please access the assignment through the Assignments area of the classroom.
Outcomes you should achieve by completing this assignment
As you complete the tasks required for this assignment, you will be working toward several of the course outcomes:
Begin the writing process by exploring a topic (Relates to course outcome 1)
Compose paragraphs that explain an event or issue (Relates to course outcome 2)
Demonstrate accurate grammar and mechanics in writing (Relates to course outcome 3)
Identify a recent and reliable news source and provide APA documentation (Relates to course outcome 4)
Formatting your assignment
Incorporate these elements of APA style:
Use one-inch margins.
Double space.
Use an easy-to-read font between 10-point and 12-point.
Note: Title page is not required, but make sure you include your name and a title that reflects your topic at the top of the first page.
Number your answers and/or include the assignment questions so your instructor can see that you addressed each part of the assignment.
Respond to each of the following.
1. Provide an APA-style reference for the news article you selected. The format for the reference is as follows:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article in sentence case. Title of Newspaper in Title Case and Italics. Retrieved from http://www.newspaperhomepage.com
Although the newspaper article should be available through the UMUC library, provide the URL directly to the newspaper that published the article. Do not provide a link to a library database record.
2.   What is the current event or issue that is being discussed in the news article? Explain the event or issue, assuming your reader has little or no prior knowledge of it. Answer in 1-2 paragraphs.
3.   Describe a specific real-life situation (other than one discussed in your news article) where the issue at hand has been observed. This could be something that happened to you or someone you know, or it could be a related event in the news. Explain the connection to the event or issue in your news article. Answer in 1-2 paragraphs.
4.   What is your field of study and how do you see it relating to the event or issue in your news article? Answer in one paragraph.
5.   What do you want to know about the issue or event in your news article? List two or more questions that you could pursue as part of your research.
 
WRTG112 Introduction to Academic Writing II
Assignment 2 Annotated Bibliography
Instructions
Task:       Create an annotated bibliography of four sources that could be used for your research project, including at least two articles from scholarly journals.
Length:   Four citations, each with an annotation of approximately 150 words
Sources: Four sources related to your research question, including at least two from scholarly journal articles. All four sources should be high-quality sources that you can use in your research project. Refer to Week 3: Selecting Sources Wisely. You may decide to use some or all of the sources that you posted in Week 3, Discussion 1: Identifying and Evaluating Sources.
Due date and grading: This assignment is due by the end of Week 4. This assignment will be graded with a rubric and will count for 20% of your course grade. To view the grading rubric, access the assignment through the Assignments area of the classroom.
Outcomes you should achieve by completing this assignment
The annotated bibliography contributes to the research project by helping you collect and analyze your sources. The outcomes for this assignment are listed below, with the associated course outcomes in parentheses:
Identify valid and reliable sources that can be used in the composition of a research essay (Course outcome 4)
Explain the nature of selected sources and their relevance of sources to the research essay (Course outcome 4)
Set up an annotated bibliography in APA format (Course outcome 4)
Demonstrate accurate grammar and mechanics in writing (Course outcome 3)
Topic
The annotated bibliography is part of your research project, which examines a current issue or event in the news from the perspective of your field of study. The annotated bibliography builds on your work from the first few weeks of class selecting an appropriate topic and then developing a more focused research question. Indicate your research question at the top of your annotated bibliography, just below the title.
What to do
Following the explanation in the videos posted in class (The Annotated Bibliography) and the Sample Annotated Bibliography, create an annotated bibliography of four sources. For each source, include:
Reference citation in APA format
Annotation of 150 ±25 words, with
summary
evaluation
use
You may (but do not have to) use CiteFast to create your reference citations.
Formatting your assignment
Incorporate these elements of APA style:
Use one-inch margins.
Double space.
Use an easy-to-read font between 10-point and 12-point.
Reference entries should be formatted with a hanging indent.
Note: Title page is not required, but make sure you include your name and a title that reflects your topic at the top of the first page. Below the title, indicate your research question.
 
 
 
 
WRTG112 Introduction to Academic Writing II
Assignment 3 Research Essay – first draft
Instructions
Task:       Write an essay using evidence to support a thesis that addresses your research question examining a current issue or event in the news from the perspective of your field of study. The audience is people who are generally educated but do not have extensive knowledge of your field.
Length:   1500-2000 words
Sources: Minimum of 6. At least 3 of these must be from scholarly journals, and all sources should be selected based on reliability, currency, and level of information/analysis. The UMUC library will be very useful in helping you find appropriate sources. You can, but do not have to, include all of the sources from your annotated bibliography.
Due date and revision: The first draft of the research essay is due by the end of Week 5. Submit your draft as an attachment (Microsoft Word is preferred) to this assignment folder. This should be as complete a draft as possible, in order to receive the most helpful feedback. In working on your draft, you may want to look at the rubric that will ultimately be used to grade your final essay. You can see it when viewing these instructions through the Assignments area of the classroom.
During Week 6, you will receive feedback on your draft.
You will then revise your essay and submit it by the end of Week 7 to the folder “Assignment 3: Research Essay, revised draft.” This version will be graded using the rubric and will count for 30% of your course grade.
Your instructor may or may not complete the rubric for your first draft, but only the grade on your revised essay will count toward your course grade.
Outcomes you should achieve by completing this assignment
The outcomes for this assignment are listed below, with the associated course outcomes in parentheses:
Use research to write an essay that will inform or persuade an audience (Course outcome 1)
Form unified, coherent, and well-supported paragraphs in support of the thesis statement (Course outcome 2)
Select sources, use them to inform and support your writing, and document them in APA style (Course outcome 4)
Demonstrate accurate grammar and mechanics in writing (Course outcome 3)
Participate in the process of receiving feedback and revising your writing (Course outcome 1)
Topic
This essay is the culmination of your research project, in which you are examining a current issue or event in the news from the perspective of your field of study. Before drafting your essay, you will have chosen a topic, developed a research question, and identified several potential sources in an annotated bibliography. You should write on the same topic for this essay, unless your professor has asked you to make changes to your topic.
Organizing and supporting your essay
As you write your essay, be sure to include the following:
an engaging introductory paragraph that includes an effective and clear thesis statement
any definition of terms or background information that your reader is likely to need to understand your paper
unified, supported, and coherent body paragraphs that defend the thesis
an effective conclusion
Research is a key element of this paper. Take care to support your claims with research throughout the paper. Include APA in-text citations whenever you use sources, whether through quote, paraphrase, or summary. An APA reference list at the end of the paper should list all of the sources cited in the text of the paper.
Point of view
This essay will be written in an academic style. Use third person point of view. Do not use “I” or “you.”
Formatting your assignment
Incorporate these elements of APA style:
Use one-inch margins.
Double space.
Use an easy-to-read font between 10-point and 12-point.
Include a title page with the title of your paper, your name, and the name of your school.
 
WRTG112 Introduction to Academic Writing II
Assignment 3 Research Essay – Revised Draft
Instructions
This is where you will submit the revised version of your research essay.
Task:       Write an essay using evidence to support a thesis that addresses your research question examining a current issue or event in the news from the perspective of your field of study. The audience is people who are generally educated but do not have extensive knowledge of your field.
Length:   1500-2000 words
Sources: Minimum of 6. At least 3 of these must be from scholarly journals, and all sources should be selected based on reliability, currency, and level of information/analysis. The UMUC library will be very useful in helping you find appropriate sources. You can, but do not have to, include all of the sources from your annotated bibliography.
Due date and grading: The revised research essay is due by the end of Week 7. It will be graded using a rubric and will count for 30% of your course grade. To view the grading rubric, please view the assignment through the Assignments area of the classroom.
Outcomes you should achieve by completing this assignment
The outcomes for this assignment are listed below, with the associated course outcomes in parentheses:
Use research to write an essay that will inform or persuade an audience (Course outcome 1)
Form unified, coherent, and well-supported paragraphs in support of the thesis statement (Course outcome 2)
Select sources, use them to inform and support your writing, and document them in APA style (Course outcome 4)
Demonstrate accurate grammar and mechanics in writing (Course outcome 3)
Participate in the process of receiving feedback and revising your writing (Course outcome 1)
Topic
This essay is the culmination of your research project, in which you are examining a current issue or event in the news from the perspective of your field of study. Before drafting your essay, you will have chosen a topic, developed a research question, and identified several potential sources in an annotated bibliography. You should write on the same topic for this essay, unless your professor has asked you to make changes to your topic.
Organizing and supporting your essay
As you write your essay, be sure to include the following:
an engaging introductory paragraph that includes an effective and clear thesis statement
any definition of terms or background information that your reader is likely to need to understand your paper
unified, supported, and coherent body paragraphs that defend the thesis
an effective conclusion
Research is a key element of this paper. Take care to support your claims with research throughout the paper. Include APA in-text citations whenever you use sources, whether through quote, paraphrase, or summary. An APA reference list at the end of the paper should list all of the sources cited in the text of the paper.
Point of view
This essay will be written in an academic style. Use third person point of view. Do not use “I” or “you.”
Formatting your assignment
Incorporate these elements of APA style:
Use one-inch margins.
Double space.
Use an easy-to-read font between 10-point and 12-point.
Include a title page with the title of your paper, your name, and the name of your school
 
WRTG112 Introduction to Academic Writing II
Assignment 4 Reflective Essay
Instructions
Reflective Essay
Task:       Explain how the process of completing your research project has affected your understanding of an issue or event in society.
Length:   800-1200 words
Sources: No minimum number of sources. Cite any sources you use in APA format.
Due date and grading: This assignment is due by the end of Week 8. It is worth 10% of your course grade and will be graded with a rubric. To view the rubric, access the assignment from the Assignments area of the classroom.
Outcomes you should achieve by completing this assignment
Organize information clearly in an explanatory essay (Course outcomes 1 and 2)
Use an introduction paragraph with a thesis statement and a concluding paragraph to frame an essay (Course outcomes 1 and 2)
Demonstrate accurate grammar and mechanics in writing (Course outcome 3)
Topic
You began your research project by reading an article from the news about a current issue or event in society. Your goal in this essay is to explain to your professor how the research and writing you have done for your research project changed your understanding of that issue or event. You will explain what changes occurred in your understanding and how those changes occurred.
Here are some questions you can consider in developing ideas for your essay:
What changes occurred in your understanding?
Do you know more about the issue/event now than you did before? (Probably!)
Do you look at the issue/event from a different perspective following your research?
Have you reconsidered opinions or assumptions that you held at the beginning of the semester?
How did those changes occur?
Which sources from your research had the greatest effect on your understanding?
Did the process of writing about your topic affect the way you thought about it?
What role did interaction with your classmates and/or professor play in your understanding of your topic?
Organizing and supporting your essay
Your essay must include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
The introduction should gain your reader’s attention, orient the reader to your topic, and state your thesis.
The body of the essay should include focused body paragraphs in support of your thesis statement. There are various ways you might choose to organize information in the body of your essay. Here are some suggestions you can consider:
You might focus each body paragraph on a step of the research process and how that step affected your understanding of the issue/event.
You might focus each body paragraph on your understanding at a particular time relative to the research process (before, during, after).
You might focus each body paragraph on a particular aspect of the issue/event and explain how your understanding of that aspect developed during your research.
The essay’s conclusion should answer the question “So what?” by placing the essay’s explanations into a larger context. To accomplish this, you can consider addressing one or more of these questions:
Will your current understanding of your event/issue affect your future actions or decisions? If so, how?
What lessons—about interpreting current events, about your field of study, about the research process—can be drawn from the experience of completing the research project?
Is research of the sort done in WRTG 112 a worthwhile activity? Why or why not?
Point of view
First person (I/me/my) is appropriate in this assignment, but second person (you/your) should be avoided.
Formatting your assignment
Incorporate these elements of APA style:
Use one-inch margins.
Double space.
Use an easy-to-read font between 10-point and 12-point.
Include a title page with the title of your paper, your name, and the name of your school.