ING 112A - Basics of Academic Writing

Course Objectives

This course aims to enhance students’ reading and writing skills simultaneously; reinforces
students’ perception of the reading-writing link, enabling them to decipher academic texts more
efficiently; teaches them to write academic essays in terms of both content and organization.
Reading skills: 1. Speed/timed reading, 2. Identifying the main points, 3. Analyzing the view
and the tone of the text, 4. Finding and interrelating relevant information, 5. Distinguishing
between general and specific information, , 6. Identifying for and against points and eliciting
arguments, 7. Eliciting topic related/key words, 8. Enhancing academic vocabulary
Writing skills: 1. Note taking, 2. Summarizing, 3. Organizing ideas and grouping them 4.
Outlining, 5. Writing thesis statements and topic sentences, , 6. Writing argumentative essays
following a certain format, 7. Supporting the main points in the essay with findings from outside
sources, 8. Using academic tone, genre language and appropriate transition signals.
Speaking Skills: 1. Carrying out in-class group work 2. Convening for brainstorming about a
certain topic 3. Participating in a debate on a certain topic

Course Description

The students of English 112 course improve their efficient reading techniques, learn to analyze
outside sources and elicit proper information, develop their critical thinking skills and go through
the processes of reading and analyzing texts, planning, drafting and editing. Students working on
text exploration and academic writing simultaneously produce argumentative essay both in their
homework assignments and their exams. Besides, they participate in the in-class discussions of
the reading materials.