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WRITING AND RESEARCH
SYLLABUS
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Term: Summer 2006 (Group # 131)
Course Number: OMN 421 Writing and Research
Instructor: Ginger G. Rodriguez
E-mail:
grodriguez@ccsj.edu
Home Phone: 219
616-2078
Office Hours: By
appointment
Instructor Background: Master of Liberal Arts, University of
B.A.
in History,
20 years’
experience as an editor and proofreader for college textbooks in the humanities
and social studies with McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Course Time: Thursdays,
Course Description: Students
will hone their business communications skills through extensive writing
practice. Research skills will be developed by preparing and presenting a
research paper in a selected area of management.
Prerequisites: None
Learning Outcomes/ Competencies:
Students in this course will:
·
Utilize
Blackboard, the college’s web-based online learning platform, effectively for
class assignments and to locate supplementary materials.
·
Demonstrate
clear, complete, and concise writing, using appropriate grammar, punctuation,
style, and development.
·
Write
and format business communications.
·
Conduct
academic research using appropriate tools: the Internet, the library, and
journals; be able to evaluate appropriate sources for research papers, including
online sources.
·
Understand
plagiarism and how to avoid it.
·
Cite
outside sources correctly, using direct quotes and summaries of others’ ideas.
·
Use
APA format correctly.
·
Create
a Power Point presentation and use it in the last night class’s presentation.
·
Give
a professional presentation with appropriate eye contact and use of notes.
Textbooks: A Writer’s Reference, 5th ed., Diane Hacker
12 Easy Steps to
Successful Research Papers, 2nd ed., Nell Merriwether
Publication Manual of
the American Psychological Association, 5th ed.
Learning Strategies:
Writing mechanics review: Each class will review basic grammar,
punctuation, and style usage to provide the necessary foundation for clear and
correct written communication.
Writing assignments: Good writing comes from practice, and
this course provides regular opportunities to write based on sources.
Class
participation: This
course is designed as a workshop; participating in class discussions and asking
questions is anticipated and will account for 10 percent of the grade.
Research project: The course builds toward presenting a
research project to the class in the final meeting. This cumulative process
involves a number of steps, all of which must be successfully completed: possible
topics, thesis statement, outline, complete rough draft, and final paper.
Presentation: In the final class meeting, students will
present their research to the class orally, using PowerPoint. This is not just reading the paper to the class;
it requires another important business skill: engaging an audience on a
selected topic.
Blackboard:
This course uses
Blackboard, the college’s web-based online learning platform, extensively for
class assignments and to provide supplementary materials. In the first class,
we will use six articles about genetic engineering that can be found at the
course Blackboard site to practice summarizing research material and using it
to write a synthesis. Access Blackboard at http://www.ccsj.edu/blackboard/ You can also reach the site by clicking on the library tab
at www.ccsj.edu, then the Blackboard tab. Once you have
logged in using the directions at the site, you will find the courses you are
registered for. Click on OMN 421 Writing and Research.
Under Course Documents, the first six articles are the materials for the first
class. The next three entries are sample papers from previous classes that we
will analyze in Week 3. Under Course Information, you will find additional
resources that may be helpful. We will go over the first six of these in class:
Research Paper Requirements, Writing Expectations, Steps in Writing a Research
Paper, Finding and Evaluating Sources, Constructing an Outline, and A Checklist
for Revising and Editing. The last two resources under Course Information may
provide helpful background. A Grammar Dictionary explains the use of terms that
you may be unfamiliar with. Although Diane Hacker’s A Writer’s
Class Policy on Attendance:
Because of
the accelerated format of the program, it is a very serious matter when a student
misses even one class session. If a student misses more than one session, the
student is required to withdraw from the module by contacting the Academic
Advisor at (219) 473-4263 and their instructor.
Center for Academic Excellence:
Tutoring assistance is free to all
students of Calumet College of St. Joseph. Call the Center for Academic
Excellence (CAE), to make an appointment at 473-4287. The Center has
experienced and well-trained tutors in most subject areas to help students who
are struggling in a course or who are doing well and would like to do better.
Regular weekly tutoring sessions are likely to improve your grade.
Statement of Plagiarism:
If an instructor or other Calumet College
of St. Joseph personnel find that a student has plagiarized or been involved in
another form of academic dishonesty, the instructor or other personnel may
elect to bring the matter up for judicial review. The maximum penalty for any
form of academic dishonesty is dismissal from the College. The procedures for
judicial review are listed under the section of CCSJ handbook that addresses
student grievances.
Please note:
Citation Guidelines:
Calumet College of St. Joseph adheres to
citation guidelines as prescribed by the particular discipline. For this class,
use the guidelines in the Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association.
Assessment:
Library assignment 10 points
Paper 10
points
Class participation 10 points
Research project
Thesis
statement 5 points
Outline 5 points
Rough
draft 10
points
Presentation 25 points
Final
paper 25
points
TOTAL 100
points
Class Policy for Assignments:
Assignments
must be turned in when due to receive credit.
Grading Scale:
|
Grade |
Points |
|
A |
100-92 |
|
A- |
91-90 |
|
B+ |
89-88 |
|
B |
87-82 |
|
B- |
81-80 |
|
C+ |
79-78 |
|
C |
77-72 |
|
C- |
71-70 |
|
D+ |
69-68 |
|
D |
67-62 |
|
D- |
61-60 |
|
F |
59 and below |
Course Outline:
Week 1,
·
Introductions/Review
of course guidelines
·
Discussion of possible research project topics
·
Review of research steps 1 – 5 (12 Easy Steps)
·
Research and business writing
·
Writing practice: summarizing
·
Writing
mechanics review: Overview, subject-verb agreement, pronoun references,
sentence fragments, punctuation marks
·
Assignments due:
§
Review Writer’s Reference: Sections B1 – B4,
Basic grammar; Sections G1 – G6, Grammatical sentences; Sections P1 –
P7, Punctuation.
§
Read 12 Easy Steps: Steps 1 – 5, pp. 1 – 67.
§
Prepare 1 – 3 business-related topics as possible
research project ideas. Topics can be related to your current job, something
that interests you, or a specific area that you want to know more about.
§
Access the six articles about genetic engineering
posted on Blackboard (see “Blackboard” under Learning Strategies above for
directions to access and use the Blackboard site for this course). These
articles include “Babies to Order,” “Designing Babies,” Designer Babies,”
“Choosing a Baby’s Sex,” “Genes,” and “Human Re-Engineering” (don’t worry –
they’re short!). Be prepared to summarize the articles in class. Print out the
articles so you’ll have access to them during the class discussion.
Week 2,
This class session will meet at:
·
Assignments
due:
§
Review
WR: Sections S1 – S7, Sentence style;
Sections W1 – W6, Word choice; Sections M1 – M6, Mechanics; Sections D1 – D4,
Document design
§
Read 12 Easy Steps: Steps 6 – 7, pp. 71 – 88
§
Research
project thesis statements
§
Paper
# 1: Synthesis of the summaries developed in class, Week 1
·
Paper
feedback
·
Steps
in writing: opening, logical development, closing
·
Writing the rough draft
·
Avoiding plagiarism – the importance of citations
·
Writing practice: paper review
·
Writing practice: business communications
·
Writing mechanics review
·
Assignments
due:
§
Review
WR: Sections R1 – R4, Researching;
Sections C1 – C6, Composing and revising; Sections APA 1 – 5
§
Read 12 Easy Steps: Steps 8 – 10, pp. 89 –
132
§
Research
paper outline
§
Library
assignment
Technology night
Meet at
§
Read 12 Easy Steps: Steps 11 – 12, pp. 133 –
154
§
Submit
complete rough draft of research project via e-mail or Blackboard
. NOTE: Rough draft
must be completed or you will be withdrawn from the class.
Week 6,
·
Students
share research findings with the class
·
Course
recap
·
Evaluations
·
Assignments
due:
§
Final
research paper due, including outline and bibliography.
§
Class
presentations. Must use PowerPoint.