Course Outlines

COURSES

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Academic Year: Fall 2016

Course Code and Title: MELD 1A03 Academic Writing & Integrity

Term: Fall

Day/Evening: D

Instructor: Prof. N/A N/A

Email: meld@mcmaster.ca

Office: Chester New Hall 228/231

Phone: 905-525-9140 x 23718

Website:

Office Hours: NA

Course Objectives:

MELD Term 1 Grading

Marking Scheme:

Final grades in the MELD Program will be assigned on a pass/fail basis.  In order to pass this course, students are required to complete ALL of the following tasks as specified:

Scheme (IELTS/CEFR):

  • (<60 %) = 5/ B1.2

  • (60 %-69 %) = 5.5/ B2.1 [PASS]

  • (70%- 79 %) = 6/ B2.2

  • (80 %- 100 %) = 6.5/ C1.1

Assessments:

  • Attend 80 % of the classes on time (late arrivals will be counted as absences)

  • Actively contribute and participate in 80 % of classes (complete assigned homework prior to class; speak English in class; refrain from using electronic devices for purposes not related to the class)

  • Complete a timed in-class paragraph (min. 250 words)

  • Complete two writing reflections

• September reflection

• November reflection

  • Score an average of 60 % on the following written tasks:

• definition paragraph

• descriptive paragraph

• cause/effect paragraph

• persuasive paragraph

• compare/contrast paragraph

• short essay

  • Complete all required activities/events and a minimum 3 English contact hours for MELD Passport

  • Score a minimum of 5.5 (IELTS)/B2.1 (CEFR) on the mid-year writing exam

MELD Passport:

For this course, you will be required to participate in some related workshops, as well as additional events/activities in order to complete a minimum of 3 English contact hours.

Required MELD Passport activities for MELD 1A03:

  • Introduction to the Library

  • Writing Support

*Claudia and your instructors will tell you about other events/activities throughout the semester

Learning Portfolio:

In term 2, you will be creating a learning portfolio to demonstrate your learning during the MELD program.  You will begin collecting items from all of your MELD courses in Term 1.  Some will be required, and some will be completely your choice.  The goal is not to collect only perfect work, but to show a picture of your growth during the MELD program. For this course, these are your portfolio items.  Please note that some are required while others can be chosen by you.  Pay careful attention to the number of items required.

Required Portfolio Items:

  • September writing reflection

  • November writing reflection

Items of Your Choice (minimum 2 items):

  • Any paragraphs or short essay from this term

Textbooks, Materials & Fees:

Gaetz, L., Phadke, S., & Sandberg, R. (2015). The Canadian writer’s world: Paragraphs & Essays. Toronto, ON: Pearson. (Unassigned sections can be used as needed for additional practice)

Method of Assessment:

Marking Scheme:

Final grades in the MELD Program will be assigned on a pass/fail basis.  In order to pass this course, students are required to complete ALL of the following tasks as specified:



 

Assessments:

  • Attend 80 % of the classes on time (late arrivals will be counted as absences)

  • Actively contribute and participate in 80 % of classes (complete assigned homework prior to class; speak English in class; refrain from using electronic devices for purposes not related to the class)

  • Complete a timed in-class paragraph (min. 250 words)

  • Complete two writing reflections

• September reflection

• November reflection

  • Score an average of 60 % on the following written tasks:

• definition paragraph

• descriptive paragraph

• cause/effect paragraph

• persuasive paragraph

• compare/contrast paragraph

• short essay

  • Complete all required activities/events and a minimum 3 English contact hours for MELD Passport

  • Score a minimum of 5.5 (IELTS)/B2.1 (CEFR) on the mid-year writing exam

 

MELD Passport:

For this course, you will be required to participate in some related workshops, as well as additional events/activities in order to complete a minimum of 3 English contact hours.

 

Required MELD Passport activities for MELD 1A03:

  • Introduction to the Library

  • Writing Support

*Claudia and your instructors will tell you about other events/activities throughout the semester

 

Learning Portfolio:

In term 2, you will be creating a learning portfolio to demonstrate your learning during the MELD program.  You will begin collecting items from all of your MELD courses in Term 1.  Some will be required, and some will be completely your choice.  The goal is not to collect only perfect work, but to show a picture of your growth during the MELD program. For this course, these are your portfolio items.  Please note that some are required while others can be chosen by you.  Pay careful attention to the number of items required.

Required Portfolio Items:

  • September writing reflection

  • November writing reflection

Items of Your Choice (minimum 2 items):

  • Any paragraphs or short essay from this term

Policy on Missed Work, Extensions, and Late Penalties:

Attendance and Late Submissions:

Regular attendance is required to successfully achieve course outcomes.  If you are absent, it is your responsibility to complete any work done in class.  

All work must be submitted in class on the due date.  Do not submit assignments by email or slide them under the instructor’s door. Late assignments will only be accepted with prior consent from the instructor and appropriate documentation to support your inability to submit the work by the due date.  

 

Please Note the Following Policies and Statements:

Academic Dishonesty

You are expected to exhibit honesty and use ethical behaviour in all aspects of the learning process. Academic credentials you earn are rooted in principles of honesty and academic integrity.

Academic dishonesty is to knowingly act or fail to act in a way that results or could result in unearned academic credit or advantage. This behaviour can result in serious consequences, e.g. the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: "Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty"), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.

It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various types of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, located at www.mcmaster.ca/academicintegrity

The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty:

  1. Plagiarism, e.g. the submission of work that is not one’s own or for which other credit has been obtained.
  2. Improper collaboration in group work.
  3. Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations.

Email correspondence policy

It is the policy of the Faculty of Humanities that all email communication sent from students to instructors (including TAs), and from students to staff, must originate from each student’s own McMaster University email account. This policy protects confidentiality and confirms the identity of the student.  Instructors will delete emails that do not originate from a McMaster email account.

Modification of course outlines

The University reserves the right to change dates and/or deadlines etc. for any or all courses in the case of an emergency situation or labour disruption or civil unrest/disobedience, etc. If a modification becomes necessary, reasonable notice and communication with the students will be given with an explanation and the opportunity to comment on changes. Any significant changes should be made in consultation with the Department Chair.

McMaster Student Absence Form (MSAF)

In the event of an absence for medical or other reasons, students should review and follow the Academic Regulation in the Undergraduate Calendar Requests for Relief for Missed Academic Term Work. Please note these regulations have changed beginning Fall 2015. You can find information at mcmaster.ca/msaf/. If you have any questions about the MSAF, please contact your Associate Dean's office.

Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities

Students who require academic accommodation must contact Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to make arrangements with a Program Coordinator. Academic accommodations must be arranged for each term of study. Student Accessibility Services can be contacted by phone 905-525-9140 ext. 28652 or e-mail sas@mcmaster.ca. For further information, consult McMaster University's Policy for Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities.

Academic Accommodation for Religious, Indigenous and Spiritual Observances

Students requiring academic accommodation based on religion and spiritual observances should follow the procedures set out in the Course Calendar or by their respective Faculty. In most cases, the student should contact his or her professor or academic advisor as soon as possible to arrange accommodations for classes, assignments, tests and examinations that might be affected by a religious holiday or spiritual observance.

Topics and Readings:

Schedule of Topics and Assignments:

 

Wk

Dates

Topic

Read

Assessment

1

Sept. 6-9/16

Audience, Purpose, Stance, and Genre in Academic Writing

Gaetz et al, Chapter 1 & 22;  Hewings, pp. 10-13 (pdf)

Writing Reflection #1

2

Sept. 12-16/16

Planning & Writing Paragraphs; Effective Paragraph Structure

Gaetz et al, Chapter 2 & 25

Timed paragraph (40 mins= 250 words)

3

Sept. 19-23/16

Basic Sentence Types, Cohesive Devices, & Definition Paragraphs

Gaetz et al, Chapter 17 -18; Chapter 8

  

4

Sept. 26-30/16

Student Authorship & Descriptive Paragraphs

Elander et al. PPT slides and questionnaires; Gaetz et al, Chapter 6

Definition paragraph

5

Oct. 3-7/16

Cause & Effect Paragraphs

Gaetz et al, Chapter 11

Descriptive paragraph

6

Oct. 10-14/16

Thanksgiving & Mid-term Recess (NO CLASSES)

7

Oct. 17-21/16

Sentence Variety & Revising Your Writing

Gaetz et al, Chapter 3 & 19

  

8

Oct. 24-28/16

Persuasive Paragraphs & Developing a Point of View

Gaetz et al, Chapter 12

Cause/effect paragraph

9

Oct 31-Nov. 4/16

Register, Clarity, & Conciseness

Gaetz et al, Chapter 19 & 31

  

10

Nov. 7-11/16

Compare/contrast paragraphs

Gaetz et al, Chapter 16

Persuasive paragraph

11

Nov. 14-18/16

Punctuation

Gaetz et al, Chapter 33-35

  

12

Nov. 21-25/16

Editing Your Writing

Gaetz et al, Chapter 36

Compare/contrast paragraph; Deadline for all MELD Passport requirements

13

Nov. 28- Dec. 2/16

Academic Citation & Style Guides

Gaetz et al, Chapter 13; McMaster resources

Writing Reflection #2

14

Dec. 5-7/16

Wrap-up

  

Short Essay