Advanced Writing

Summer 2010 (May 31st-July 23rd)

Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-11:00 am

Instructor: Suzanne M. Bardasz

Office: Room 1118
Office Hours: By appointment only
Office Phone Number: 350-8786
E-mail: suzanne.bardasz@gmail.com
Website: http://suzannesclassroom.com/moodle

Suggested Website
Purdue University OWL (Online Writing Lab)- http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

Course Description and Objectives

Advanced Writing is a continuation of the intermediate writing course taught at KAIST.
However, this course’s main focus is on writing assignments and situations you may encounter
in the future, such as pursuing future studies in graduate schools abroad, working at an
international research institute, and/or publishing in international research journals. There will be
some reading and discussion in class, but the main focus will be on writing.
This course will be split into two sections. The first section will review key points from
previous writing classes: thesis statements, topic sentences, paragraph unity, and supporting
details. During the first section, we will also review essays that are generally problematic for
students (ex. Comparison and Contrast Essay, Persuasive Essay), as well as writing for practical
purposes (ex. Writing a CV/Resume and Statement of Purpose).
The second section of the class will focus on writing for research purposes: writing a
research proposal, writing an abstract of your results, writing a source report, as well as in-text
citations, summaries, and paraphrases. All of the information in the second half of class will help
in preparing you to write a research paper.
All essays and assignments in class will focus on the “process” method: 1) brainstorming,
2) organizing your writing, and 3) editing and revision. We will also review various grammar
points by having you analyze and correct your own writing and your peers’ writing.

There is no required textbook for this class. Rather, various handouts and worksheets will
be used.

Course Requirements
1) Attend classes
 You must attend class regularly.
 Except for emergencies or valid excuses, you must attend 70% of the classes to pass.
 You must come to class on time.
  If you know you will miss a class because of an emergency and/or illness, business
trip, or an unexpected change in plans, you must notify me by e-mail before class. It
is your responsibility to find out what you missed in class and to complete missing
assignments.

2) Be on time
 You are expected to show up to class on time. As I am in class and ready to teach on
time, I expect you to be in the classroom ready to learn on time.
 Unless you tell me before hand that you will be late for class, anybody who shows up
to class after 15 minutes will be considered absent.
 If no one shows up to class in the first 20 minutes of class, class will be automatically
cancelled.

3) Be prepared
 You must attend class regularly and complete all assignments, including postings to the
class website.
 Bring all the things you need for the class: textbook, pens, pencils, dictionary, notebook,
homework, questions, etc.
 Turn off your cell phones (including vibrator tone) before coming to class and cell
phones must not visibly be seen (no text messaging in class).
 If you must accept a cell phone call in class, please step outside of the classroom, so
you will not disturb the class.

4) Participate
 You must actively participate in class and be cooperative and supportive of your
classmates, as well as be respectful to me.
 Everybody can participate and enjoy themselves during this course. If you do not
participate, then you cannot improve. The best way to learn English is to participate.
Share your ideas and beliefs, have an opinion, agree and disagree.
 Ask questions if you don’t understand something or need repetition. There are NO dumb
questions!
 In other words, just participate!

4) Language
Use English. The use of Korean in class will not help you improve your English abilities, so
using and speaking Korean is highly discouraged during class.

TENTATIVE DAILY SCHEDULE

Week/Date Topic
Week 1 Introductions/ Writing Prompt/Class syllabus
Day 1 Similes and Metaphors
Day 2 Paragraph unity, thesis statements
Writing Assignment #1-Introducing yourself
Week 2 General Writing Review (if necessary)/
Day 3 Conceptual Paragraphs
Day 4
 Writing a Process Essay

Week 3 Writing a Classification Essay

Day 5
Day 6
Week 5 Writing a Comparison and Contrast Essay
Day 9
Day 10
Week 6 Supporting Details, Writing a
Day 11 Persuasive/Argumentative Essay
Day 12
Week 7 Writing a CV/Resume, Cover Letter, Statement
Day 13 of Purpose
Day 14
Week 8 Paraphrases, Summaries, In-text Citations, and
Day 15 other aspects of academic/technical writing

Day 16 Last class (All writing assignments must be turned

in by this day)