Course Overview
• Syllabus (Course Home on KU-ACE)
• Course Overview (.ppt)
• How's That Working for You? (group activity)
• Statement of Understanding/Com (.doc)
• Final Paper Requirements (Course Home on KU-ACE)


Introductions

• Name
• Program/time at Kaplan
• Something that isn't obvious about this person

Readings

• “From Topic to Research Questions to Thesis”
  (KU Handbook, pp. 29–31)
• “The Myth of the Two-Sided Issue ”
  (KU Handbook, pp. 21–24)
• Final Paper Requirements

Class Activities

• Difference between academic and personal writing
• Key terms:
  • Rhetoric: the art of composing effective discourse (exchange of ideas, conversation)
  • Argument: in speech and writing, an assertion made about a topic that is supported by at least one reason
  • Persuasion: the act of seeking to change someone else’s beliefs, actions, procedures, etc.
  • Counterargument: an argument offered in opposition to another argument (Yes, but...)
  • Informed opinion
    (KU Handbook, p. 5)
  • Skim model paper (pp. 224-235)
• Sources of ideas for topics
  • Finding a Topic
  • Magazines in the library
  • Critical conversations in your field

Homework
• Unit 1 Exercise (25 pts.) due in Dropbox before next class (directions and model on KU-ACE, Week 1; rubric in syllabus on Course Home)

Content covered in class today is also covered in “From Topic to Research Questions to Thesis” (KU Handbook for Writers, pp. 29–31).

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The Research Paper: Getting Started

8:15 Andy Gress on sources

Review formal vs. informal writing

Listening activity

• Three appeals: ethos, logos, pathos
• Fisher speech

Finding sources

• What is the difference between a popular and an academic source?
  • Kendalls, C. Should parents raise their children without television? (2002-2010). Available from Helieum website: http://m.www.helium.com/
    items/711341-should-parents-raise-their-children-without-television
  • Christakis, D. A., Zimmerman, F. J., DiGuisseppe, D. L., & McCarty, C. A. (2004, April). Early television exposure and subsequent attentional problems in children. Pediatrics,113(4).
    Retrieved from American Academy of Pediatrics website: http://www.aap.org/advocacy/ releases/tvapril.pdf
    
• How good are these sources?
• John Douglas: Mind Hunter
• Pay No ...Tax (note the contact address)
• ReligiousTolerance
• Try doing an APA citation for this site: AIDs Facts using the format below.
  
• Author. (Date). Title. Retrieved from Ithaca College Library website: http://147.129.226.1/library/ research/AIDSFACTS.htm
  

• Finding credible pro-con sources
• Are your sources scholarly?

Homework

• Do background reading and start looking for sources on possible topic(s)
  • EBSCO
  • Scholar Google
  • FindArticles
• Read: ”Critical Thinking—The Ultimate Goal of Academic Writing” (KU Handbook, pp. 58–65)
• Have conference on topic, plan to find sources (10 pts)

Useful Resources

• "Is It a Magazine or Journal?"
• Why Articles?
• Interpreting URLS
• Search Engine Tips and Tricks
• Finding Sources (.ppt)
• Have EBSCO create
  a reference entry
  

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Week 3
Critical Thinking & Exploring Topics

Progress Check

1. Skim "Top Ten Mistakes in Academic Research," The KU Handbook for Writers, pp. 196-200.
2. Meet with one to three other people and discuss these questions:
   • What obstacles have you met in your research?
   • What are some ways to overcome those obstacles?
   • As a group, what are your top tips for research (list at least three tips).
3. As a group, choose at least one problem/solution to share with the class.

Avoiding Logical Fallacies

• Sources for definitions:
• Stephen's Guide
• The Nizkor Project: Fallacies
• Critical Thinking
• Logical Fallacies resources
• The KU Handbook for Writers, pp. 63-65
• Create infomercials or proposals (see Infomercial link on KU-ACE, Week 3.
• Evaluating Web Sites (.doc)
• What Can I Say? (.ppt)

Homework
Summarize your reading and thinking about your topic so far.

• Draft Topic Exploration project (50 points)
• Read Web_Research_Guidelines.pdf

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Check topic exploration draft against rubric (in syllabus) and common errors checklist.

Open-book quiz (use fallacies resources from Week 3 and common errors checklist above)

Preview research plan assignment (100 points).

APA documentation

• Giving Credit Where It's Due (.ppt)
• Resources
  • APA paper template
  • Common APA Mistakes (.ppt)
  • Other APA resources
  • Citation makers
    • Bedford Bibliographer
    • Citation Machine
    • NoodleBib Express
    • Other citation makers

Homework: Draft research plan

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Week 5
Continuing Research, Plagiarism,
& Prewriting

(Research plan draft due at the beginning of class; you cannot make this up if you have not arranged an extension in advance)

Peer edit Research Plan (100 points)

• Test thesis
• Check support for claims against rubric
• Check for correctness
  • Sentence tests
  • APA checklist
  • APA formatting resources
  • APA documentation (Madison)
  • Other APA resources
    Note: if you use a citation-maker, check the results against a reliable source

     

  Notetaking strategies

Exercise: See U5 Exercise Link on KU-ACE

1. Skim the article on "Top Ten Mistakes in Academic Research" (available in the Doc Sharing area).
2. With a partner, create a quotation sandwich based on this article.
3. Cite anything you take from the text, with quotation marks and a parenthetical citation for anything taken word-for-word and a parenthetical citation for tips put into your own words. For your parenthetical citation, use (VanDam & Tysick, 2008).
4. Compare your version with the original. Look for places where your version is too close to the original in language or organization. Add quotation marks or use more of your own words where necessary.

More practice: Paraphrasing and Pompous Proverbs (ppt)

Organizing Your Argument Paper

• see Doc Sharing on KU-ACE for c-section paper and reverse outline

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No class meeting because of Labor Day holiday. To keep moving

• If you feel stuck, read "Getting Started on a Draft: Cures for Writer's Block" (prewriting.pdf, available in the Doc Sharing area)
• For ideas on introductions and conclusions read Hooks & Clinchers handout
• Draft research paper (150 pts)
• Draft Rubric (.doc)

Internet Resources

• Online tools
  • Persuasion Map
  • Paradigm Online Writing Assistant
• Model Papers

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Week 7
Constructive Collaboration & Peer Reviews

You will not receive credit for your argument drafts unless you have

• used parenthetical citation
• provided a reference list
• and properly cited all material taken from sources.

Drafts will not be accepted after Week 7 unless prior arrangements have been made.

Week 8
Reflection and Revision; Polishing the Final Paper

Plagiarism Review

• Interactive exercises: Indiana's plagiarism self-test and practice (print certificate if you get it)
• (alternative: Trinity's Identifying Plagiarism)
• Additional resource: Plagiarism: How to Recognize and Avoid It

Why Spell Check Isn't Enough

• practice editing activity (.doc)

Paramedic Method of Revision

• KU Handbook for Writers, pp. 70-72
• another explanation (Richmond)
• example of how the method was used in two rounds of editing
• paragraph for group practice
• more practice (MIT)

• resources
  • to have and to be
  • list of prepositions
  • more about prepositions from C. Darling

Homework

• Read "Protect Your R.E.P."
  • Go to search.ebscohost.com
  • select Academic Search Elite database
  • search for Vassallo and protect
  • read the article and identify two ways you can use Vassallo's ideas to revise your papers (15 points)
  • NOTE: If you retrieve the article through Kaplan's online library, search in Academic Search Premier database.
    
• Polish final argument paper, if necessary.
• Prepare an abstract for informal presentation (20 points) next week

Informal Presentations:
Informally present results of research (choose executive summary or fact sheet) and turn in final revisions of any assignments.

Final Review

• APA and process review (.doc)
• Selected Exercises from KU Handbook for Writers

Revision exercises

• LEO Revising Guidelines
• Computer editing tricks (click on Using Technology to Revise link)
• Trim the Fat exercise
• "sounds like" dictionary search

Homework

Final Exam (letter about what you learned in this course)

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Week 10
Final Exam
Aug. 6, 10:00-11:45am

Final Exam (letter about what you learned in this course)

Tools for continued progress

• Developing a Professional Writing Style
• "Is There an Easy Way to Correct My Own Grammatical Errors?" (Tina Blue)
• Grammar help
• Writing: A Ticket to Work
• APA handout (Madison)

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