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Course Name
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Year
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Term
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Period
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Faculty / Graduate School
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All Instructors
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Credits
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16212:IR18‐CB102 Academic Skills II (Advanced) (RG) § 16213:RUIR-1102 Academic Skills II (Advanced)(RG) |
2024 |
Fall |
Wed3,Fri3 |
College Of International Relations |
TENNANT JOHN MORRELL |
4 |
Campus
KIC/KIC
Class Venue
KOSHINKAN KS203/KOSHINKAN KS203
Language
English
Course Outline and Method
The aim of AS II is to develop students' academic writing competence together with related skills such as critical thinking, autonomous learning, research and referencing, team work and IT skills. Students will examine contentious issues in International Relations, identify key questions and construct well-supported, logically-sequenced arguments to address these questions. They will familiarize themselves with conventions of academic writing, expand their academic vocabulary and increase their control over complex grammar. Class activities may include group discussions and oral presentations, sentence, paragraph and essay-level writing, as well as academic skills training such as paraphrasing, citing and referencing. The focus of this course is on developing students' research skills, power of argument and support, written expression, and awareness of writing conventions. Formative evaluation is performed through class participation, including small quizzes and assignments as well as one or more essays, papers, and presentations, based on a rubric that targets each skill.
Student Attainment Objectives
1. Students will be able to analyze, compare and evaluate a range of current issues in law, politics and economics with a view to their local, regional and global impact, and discuss different viewpoints from a variety of stakeholders in a well-informed, coherent manner.
2. Students will be able to plan, draft and revise a research essay or academic paper on a relevant topic following APA style conventions, share their findings in the form of an oral presentation, and provide, receive and integrate feedback from their peers.
3. Students will be able to comprehend and manipulate language at an advanced level of proficiency, demonstrate confidence in both independent learning and group work, and display an awareness of diversity and multicultural environments, developing skills transferable to future contexts in core programs, study abroad programs, and international job placements.
Recommended Preparatory Course
Course Schedule
| Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) |
Theme |
| Keyword, References and Supplementary Information |
|
1 ～ 2 |
Introduction to Course / Writing at university |
• Course Introduction
◦ Teacher introduction (“Forum”)
◦ Expectations
◦ Using manaba - “Tests”; Quizlet (New Academic Word List)
◦ Textbook (+ Online Resources)
◦ Writing self-introductions (“Forum”).
◦ Dialogue Journals – explanation
• Academic paragraphs
◦ Analyzing the model; fundamentals of a paragraph; formatting and mechanics
◦ Sentences: the building blocks of paragraphs
◦ Phrases: the building blocks of sentences
◦ About International Relations (“Forum”)
• Assignment 1 – self-introduction (due week 2) with peer feedback (due by Week 3)
◦ Both are to be posted in the manaba “Forum” |
|
3 ～ 4 |
Writing process; purpose of writing |
• Writing Process (Chapter 1 pp. 21-26)
◦ Pre-writing, organizing, initial drafts
◦ Revising, proofreading, final drafts
• Narrative Paragraphs (Chapter 2 of textbook)
◦ Analyzing the model;
◦ Time-order signals
◦ Purpose of writing
• Dialogue journals – Journal 1 submission (due week 2)
◦ To be submitted using manaba “Assignments” |
|
5 ～ 6 |
Narrative paragraphs |
• Narrative Paragraphs - assignment (Chapter 2)
◦ Prewriting (i.e. freewriting)l
◦ Writing process.
◦ Assignment: a memorable event or experience
• Review so far (Chapters 1 and 2)
◦ Questions and answers
◦ Importance of reading
◦ Words; part of speech; using dictionaries and thesauruses.
◦ Shared folder for journals
• Assignment 2 – narrative paragraph with peer feedback (due in week 4)
◦ Paragraph to be posted in the manaba “Forum” by week 3
◦ Peer feedback to be posted in the manaba “Forum” in week 4
• Dialogue journal 1 – Journal 1 return |
|
7 ～ 8 |
Paragraph structure |
• Basic Paragraph Structure (Chapter 3)
◦ Analyzing the model
◦ Paragraph organization
▪ Topic sentences
▪ Supporting sentences
▪ Concluding sentences
• Basic Paragraph Structure (Chapter 3)
◦ Sentence structure; adjectives and adverbs
◦ Organizing paragraphs: outlining |
|
9 ～ 10 |
Papers in the Social Sciences: structure and content |
• Logical Division of Ideas (Chapter 4)
◦ Analyzing the model
◦ Organizing a paragraph using a logical division of ideas
• Keeping on topic: unity and coherence in a paragraph
◦ Using transition signals
• Summary writing
• Dialogue journal 2 – submission (week 5)
◦ To be submitted using manaba “Assignments” |
|
11 ～ 12 |
Student papers - APA style; process pararagraphs |
• Review; Q&A; Student papers (Chapters 3 and 4)
◦ Student papers (Supplementary material)
▪ Paper elements; formatting (APA style)
• Process Paragraphs (Chapter 5)
◦ Analyzing the model
◦ Organization of process paragraphs; use of time-order signals
• Dialogue journal 2 – return |
|
13 ～ 14 |
Process paragraphs; emailing the instructor |
• Process Paragraphs (Chapter 5)
◦ Purpose of process paragraphs
◦ Sentence structures: clauses and complex sentences.
◦ Emailing course instructor
• Definition Paragraphs (Chapter 6)
◦ Analyzing the model
◦ Organization: 3 pieces of information
• Dialogue journal 3 – submission (week 7)
◦ To be submitted using manaba “Assignments”
• Assignment 3 explanation |
|
15 ～ 16 |
Definition paragraphs |
• Definition Paragraphs (Chapter 6)
◦ More about complex sentences
◦ Paragraph organization: clustering/mind maps
• Review; Q&A + (Chapters 5 and 6)
◦ Paraphrasing
◦ Using outside sources
◦ APA style for citations and reference list
• Dialogue journal 3 – return |
|
17 ～ 18 |
Cause / effect paragraphs |
• Cause / Effect Paragraphs (Chapter 7)
◦ Analyzing the model
◦ Organization: what happened and why
• Cause / Effect Paragraphs (Chapter 7)
◦ Analyzing the model 2
◦ Cause / effect transition signals
• Assignment 3 – submission (week 9)
◦ To be submitted using manaba “Assignments” |
|
19 ～ 20 |
Comparison / contrast paragraphs |
• Comparison / Contrast Paragraphs (Chapter 8)
◦ Analyzing the model
◦ Organization: point-by-point or block
• Comparison / Contrast Paragraphs (Chapter 8)
◦ Analyzing the model 2
◦ Comparison and Contrast signal words
• Assignment 4 explanation
• Dialogue journal 4 – submission (week 10)
◦ To be submitted using manaba “Assignments” |
|
21 ～ 22 |
Writing Essays |
• Review; Q&A (Chapters 7 and 8)
◦ Timed writing: positive effects of walking
◦ Using the appendices
• Essay Organization (Chapter 9)
◦ Analyzing the model
◦ Organization:
▪ Introducttion
▪ Body
▪ Conclusion
◦ Introductory paragraphs
• Dialogue journal 4 – return
Language and grammar
- quantity expressions
- connectors to show support and opposition |
|
23 ～ 24 |
Essay organization |
• Essay Organization (Chapter 9)
◦ Body paragraphs
◦ Concluding paragraphs
◦ Outlining an essay
◦ Getting ideas and organizing them
• Final essay – explanation of assignment
• Assignment 4 – submission (week 12)
◦ To be submitted using manaba “Assignments” |
|
25 ～ 26 |
Opinion essays |
• Opinion Essays (Chapter 10)
◦ Analyzing the model
◦ Thesis statement: state your opinion
◦ Supporting details, including outside sources
◦ Conducting a survey
• Dialogue journal 5– submission (week 13)
◦ To be submitted using manaba “Assignments” |
|
27 ～ 28 |
Writing and rewriting |
• Opinion Essays (Chapter 10)
• Q&A about final essay
◦ Essay outline/plan; introduction draft
• Dialogue journal 5 – return
• Dialogue journal 5 – final replies submission (week 14)
◦ To be submitted using manaba “Assignments” |
|
29 ～ 30 |
Final review and course wrap-up |
• Q&A about final essay
◦ Self checks and peer reviews
• Final essay project submission (end of week 15)
◦ To be submitted using manaba “Assignments” |
Class Format
All classes are to be conducted face to face; however, in the case of an emergency, the instructor may elect to provide online (live-streamed) classes. Please note that the maximum number of online classes must be less than 1/2 of the total number of classes for the specified course. If an instructor does conduct a live-streamed class, then the link will be posted on Manaba+R.
Recommendations for Private Study
Make use of the library and the Writing Tutoral Centre as much as possible.
Develop the habit of reading journal articles, as well as newspaper and magazine articles with an awareness of argumentation. What theoretical influences lie behind claims and assertions? Does the evidence exist to back up these claims? What gaps can be detected (either in logic or in the literature itself). If you ask these questions with critical awareness, you can begin to develop a coherent view of global society and the relations between states.
Read lots in general. Good writers are always well-read people.
Grade Evaluation Method
| Kind |
Percentage |
Grading Criteria etc. |
| Final Examination (Written) |
|
|
Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline) |
|
|
Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class) |
100 |
Manaba assignments: 25%
• Approximately 25 assignments.
• 15 of 25 assignments must be completed.
Dialogue journals: 30%
• A dialogue journal must be submitted 5 times during the term.
• The journal will be used to for prewriting and reflecting on writing.
• Each journal submission must be at least 150 words.
Class and Manaba "Forums" participation: 15%
Short writing assignments: 10%
• Assignments (about 300 to 400 words each)
Final essay: 20%
• Approximately 1500 words |
Grade Evaluation Method （Note）
Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods
Textbooks
Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）
Homework exercises will assigned each week, to be done using manaba+R.
Reference Books
Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）
Web Pages for Reference
How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)
Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)
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