2024 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses English language courses
Academic Writing in English 12
- Academic unit or major
- English language courses
- Instructor(s)
- Lorinda Kiyama
- Class Format
- Exercise (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Wed
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAE.E362
- Number of credits
- 010
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
We will improve expository writing skills in English, along with reading comprehension, vocabulary, advanced grammar, and critical thinking skills. Classes are taught entirely in English and will include discussion and sharing of written work with classmates.
Course description and aims
Students will be able to write a variety of kinds of essays in English and will increase their academic vocabulary, critical thinking skills, and collaborative editing abilities. They will discuss the features of clear and concise writing in English with examples.
Keywords
academic writing in English; essays; discussion
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Students will apply writing skills that require critical thinking in Part 2 of the textbook. A variety of writing exercises will culminate in a final paper that students will evaluate in class. Each student will select from Part 3 whether to write as a sociologist, biologist, literary expert, or environmental engineer, and will follow the model in the section they chose.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Fact and Opinion (Sociology, Part 2 Critical Thinking Skills) | Signpost facts and opinions; make claims; evaluate opinions; write a thesis statement and outline of claims and support |
| Class 2 | Reading Critically for Effective Writing (Economics, Part 2 Critical Thinking Skills) | Select sources and integrate them to provide evidence; respond to inference; write a critical response |
| Class 3 | Process Writing (Biology, Part 2 Critical Thinking Skills) | Explain a procedure; Formulate a hypothesis; Form conditional clauses |
| Class 4 | Descriptive Writing (Humanities, Part 2 Critical Thinking Skills) | Explore figurative language; write a descriptive essay |
| Class 5 | Research Writing (Environmental Engineering, Part 2 Critical Thinking Skills) | Write a research proposal; develop an abstract; analyze research posters; create text for a research poster |
| Class 6 | Part 3 Extended Writing: Select one unit not covered in the third quarter (Sociology, Economics, Biology, Humanities, or Environmental Engineering) | Write as a sociologist, biologist, literary expert, or environmental engineer |
| Class 7 | Present writing project in groups depending on Part 3 unit selected; offer peers feedback | Present writing and evaluate peers' writing |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Handouts
Reference books, course materials, etc.
To be shared in class
Evaluation methods and criteria
class participation 30%
homework exercises 40%
final research paper 30%
Related courses
- LAE.E361 ： Academic Writing in English 11
Prerequisites
capacity to speak and write in English at an upper intermediate level
Other
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