AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY-BANGLADESH

Dhaka, Bangladesh

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

COURSE OUTLINE

I - Course Title: English Writing Skills and Communication (SemesterSpring 2009-2010)

II - Credit: 3
III AA and F
IV - Course Description:
The course is designed to study various rhetorical patterns and use their writing skills to develop essays in
these patterns. The rhetorical patterns studied in this course are process analysis, cause and effect, and
argument/persuasion. Students will also learn the process of writing. This course will help students learn
how to think more clearly, organize thoughts in logical sequence, and improve writing skills through
prewriting, writing, and rewriting processes. The underlying premise of the course is that the students who
take it are inexperienced writers who need practice, not that they are incapable. Like other composition
courses, the course is designed to give students extensive practice in writing in order to improve their
ability to invent substantial content and express it in fluent prose. It helps students learn the many
functions of writing--to discover ideas, use language effectively, and communicate with and influence
audiences. Along the way, students learn or review conventional practices of usage and punctuation.

V Objectives:
1

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

understand how audience and purpose influence a writer's choices;

flexibly employ the basic processes of writing--planning, editing, composing, and revising;
develop multi-paragraph essays and arrange them coherently;
use supporting detail based on personal experience and outside materials;
demonstrate increased competence with varied sentence structures;
understand and apply the basic conventions of syntax and mechanics;
Proofread competently and prepare acceptable manuscripts.

VI Topics (Major and subtopics) to be covered

TOPICS

Specific
Time
Suggested
Objective(s) per Frame Activities
Topic

Principles of effective writing

To be able to use the

principles in their own
writing
To select the right verb for
the subject
To be capable of avoiding
incomplete sentences in
their writing

Subject verb agreement

Fragments

Prewriting:
strategies.

planning

the

Paragraph writing:
Qualities, structure of a
paragraph Topic sentence.
The different stylistic features of
writing : linguistic analysis
Paragraph writing: Descriptive
and Narrative.
Paragraph writing: Comparison

Teaching
Strategy(s
)

1 Week
1 Weeks

1 Weeks
2 Weeks

To develop organized
paragraph

Brainstorming
Clustering

Student-oriented
throughout the
semester:
Students are
expected to
participate
enthusiastically in
the classroom
activities

1 Weeks
To learn to write an effective
paragraph
To be able to find out the
major linguistic elements of
piece of a text

1 Week
2 Weeks

2 Weeks
1 Week

and contrast.

1 Week

Essays writing: Comparison and

contrast.
Punctuation ( comma ,
capitalization)
Argumentative writing.
Letter writing: Official letters.
Lab session

VII - Course Requirements

Class attendance: At least 80%. Failure to do so will bring an automatic UW.
Class performance: Student-centered. Each student has to participate on a regular basis.
Assignments: Must be submitted within stipulated time frame. No late submissions will be entertained.
Quizzes: Will be both written and verbal. No make-up will be taken for missed quizzes.

IX Textbook/ Reference
Materials

VIII Evaluation
1. Termed Exam
2. Quizzes & Assignments
3. Presentation and
class performance
4. Attendance
Total

The advancing writer book:

paragraphs and essays by Karen L.
Greenberg, Harper Collins.

College Writing Skills With

readings- John Langan

Quest Reading and Writing in

the academic world- Pamela
Hartmann And Laurie Blass

All kinds of lecture sheets and

materials given by the course
teacher.

40%
30%
20%
10%
100%