WRTG112 Full Course Latest 2018 December Question # 00598725 Course Code : WRTG112 Subject: Communications Due on: 03/01/2019 Posted On: 03/01/2019 10:27 AM Tutorials: 1 Rating: 4.8/5

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