English Composition One: Foundations of Academic Writing and Research

Module one serves as an introductory foundation for college-level writing and research.
Key areas of focus include rhetorical modes, Modern Language Association (MLA) formatting, academic database navigation, and the multi-stage writing process.
These foundational skills are essential for success throughout this specific course and are applicable across various academic disciplines.

Rhetorical modes represent various organizational frameworks that writers utilize to structure and present ideas effectively to their audience.
Commonly utilized rhetorical modes include:
- Narration: The process of recounting a story or detailing specific events.
- Description: The use of sensory and specific details to assist readers in visualizing a subject.
- Comparison and Contrast: An examination of the similarities and differences between two distinct subjects.
- Cause and Effect: The explanation of causal relationships between specific events.
- Analysis: The breakdown of complex ideas into components to build or support an argument.
In academic essay construction, writers frequently blend several rhetorical modes to achieve their goals and analyze complex readings.

Strong academic writing is rarely produced in a single step; rather, it is developed through a series of intentional stages.
The stages of the writing process include:
- Prewriting: This initial phase involves brainstorming, gathering information, and organizing preliminary ideas.
- Drafting: The act of composing the first version of a manuscript. This stage applies to all forms of writing, not just academic essays.
- Revising: Also known as "developmental editing," this stage focuses on the "big picture" elements of the work, including overall organization, the clarity of the message, and the strength of the arguments.
- Editing and Proofreading: This final stage involves a granular review of the text to correct errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling, as well as ensuring proper formatting.
Following this structured process results in clearer, stronger, and more organized manuscripts applicable to both academic and professional contexts.

Scholarly articles are academic sources authored by experts within a specific field and published in specialized academic journals.
Peer Review Process:
- All scholarly articles undergo a rigorous peer review process before publication.
- In this process, multiple experts in the same field evaluate the work to ensure the provided information is accurate and credible.
- While not $100\%$ foolproof, this peer review system provides a much higher level of reliability than general internet sources or Wikipedia.
Characteristics of Scholarly Articles:
- Inclusion of original research or scholarly analysis.
- Extensive citations and references to other credible academic sources.
- Utilization of formal academic language.
- A structured format typically including sections for the Introduction, Methods, Discussion, and References.
Accessing Resources:
- Credible information for research can be accessed via the GMC Library link found in the course sidebar.
- JSTOR and EBSCOhost are highly recommended databases for students in English composition courses.

Integrating external sources is a critical skill used to support original ideas with evidence while avoiding plagiarism.
Quoting:
- Involves using the exact verbatim words from a source.
- Requires the use of quotation marks and a corresponding in-text citation.
Paraphrasing:
- Involves restating an author's specific ideas in original wording while maintaining the source's meaning.
- Typically used for changing a sentence or two.
- Must be accompanied by an in-text citation, similar to a direct quote.
Summarizing:
- Involves condensing the primary ideas of a longer text into a brief, simplified explanation.
- Focuses on capturing the main ideas rather than specific details.
- Because it captures broad main ideas, citation is not required for a summary within this specific context.
Distinguishing between these three methods is essential for academic integrity.

MLA formatting is the standard style used within English and Humanities courses.
Standard MLA requirements for manuscripts include:
- Font: $12$ -point size, typically a professional font like Times New Roman.
- Spacing: The entire document must be double-spaced.
- Margins: Margins must be set to $1$ \,inch on all sides.
- In-text Citations: Used to identify the source of any quoted or paraphrased material.
- Works Cited Page: A comprehensive list at the end of the paper documenting all sources referenced in the work.
Adhering to these conventions ensures that work meets academic standards, is easy for instructors to read, and prevents plagiarism.

Diagnostic Quiz: Designed to assess the student's understanding of key concepts introduced in the module.
Critical Thinking Exercise: An activity focused on the comparison and contrast rhetorical mode, designed to develop high-level thinking and academic writing skills.

For questions or assistance regarding the course material, students should contact the instructor at atgz.aq.