COM330 Academic Writing (3 cr.)

Academic writing focuses on reflective, informational, and persuasive writing directed at an academic audience. Clear summarization of material, critical reading of texts, thoughtful and developed responses, effective secondary research, incorporation of sources into documents, appropriate document of research using APA format, and construction of persuasive and informative academic papers are addressed. The format and style of essays and research papers are explored. The course also emphasizes the development of a strong, formal academic voice and style.  The course is taught around a humanities theme, which assignments focus upon. Themes vary by semester.

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to be able to do the following:

1. Critically read and engage texts.
2. Express and explain, in a logical and developed manner, their responses to texts or ideas.
3. Develop a clear thesis statement and support it with evidence.
4. Develop a clear organization for a paper, and manage their ideas and sources within the paper.
5. Conduct secondary research using library databases and other appropriate academic research.
6. Apply APA format and documentation to a research paper.
7. Write in a formal academic style and voice.
8. Incorporate source materials effectively into their papers.
9. Identify and follow all ethical requirements of using source materials for a paper or presentation.