D. Battles
Below is a sample break down of class time, for the Fall term, allocated for writing instruction at the 200-level. This is just a model for you. While the research skills vary from one discipline to another, you can find a list of the shared Learning Objectives for writing at the W2 level, along with some basic exercises and lesson plans for teaching research writing skills, including Evaluating and Annotating sources, and a Sample Research Paper Body Paragraph, at the college Writing Webpage (writing.hanover.edu).
How it Works: For this 200-level W2 course, students complete a series of research papers (two at 5 pages, and one at 12 pages) designed to gradually build student expertise for research writing within the discipline. The earliest paper assignment comes with the most scaffolding, providing students with a list of scholarly sources to integrate into the paper, freeing students to focus more closely on reading and annotating the sources, conceptualizing an argument, and crafting paragraphs that integrate primary and secondary sources effectively and responsibly. Subsequent papers require students to assume more responsibility for finding appropriate sources as well as using them. For each paper, we devote in-class time to a Thesis and Topic Sentence Workshop, and one class period to crafting a single excellent body paragraph or introductory paragraph for that particular type of paper. Other skills, such as Evaluating and Annotating Sources get a single class day. This in-class, supervised writing time makes for wonderful student papers that they will love writing and you will love grading. Truly.
Grading Procedures:
Class Participation: 20%
Papers (3): 35% (10%/10%/15%)
Written Responses (3): 15% (5% each)
Midterm: 15%
Final Exam: 15%
The Plan:
Week 1 (8/30-9/3): Overview
M: course content
W: course content
F: course content
Week 2: (9/6-9/10): Content
M: Labor Day (no class)
W: course content
F: course content
Week 3 (9/13-9/17): Content
M: course content
W: course content
F: course content
Week 4 (9/20-9/24): Research Writing
M: course content
W: Thesis and Outlining of Paper 1
F: Annotating a Source (bring a secondary source with you)
Week 5 (9/27-10/1): Research Writing; Content
M: One Dynamite Paragraph: Integrating and Quoting Sources (bring two secondary sources with you).
W: course content; Annotated Bibliography Due for Paper 1
F: course content
Week 6 (10/4-10/8): Content
M: course content
W: Paper 1 Due; Peer Editing Workshop (bring one hard copy of your paper to class).
F: course content
Week 7 (10/11-10/15): Review and Midterm
M: Fall Break!!
W: course content
F: Revision of Paper 1 Due; Midterm Review
Week 8 (10/18-10/22): Research Writing
M: Midterm
W: Evaluating and Navigating scholarly sources; Introduction to Paper 2
F: Thesis and Outlining of Paper 2; Finding Scholarly Sources; Compiling a Bibliography.
Week 9 (10/25-10/29): Content
M: course content
W: course content
F: course content
Week 10 (11/1-11/5): Content; Research Writing
M: course content
W: Paper 2 Due (without the Introduction); Writing a Great Introduction (in-class)
F: course content; Paper 2 due (with Introduction)
Week 11 (11/8-11/12): Content
M: course content; Review Paper 3 Assignment
W: course content
F: course content
Week 12 (11/15-11/19): Content
M: course content
W: course content
F: course content
Week 13 (11/22-11/26): Content
M: course content
W: Thanksgiving!!!
F: Thanksgiving!!!
Week 14(11/29-12/3): Wrap-up and Review
M: course content
W: Exam Review
F: Paper 3 Due