Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2024 - FAL X99 D100

Foundations of Academic Literacy (4)

Class Number: 6092

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 4 – Oct 11, 2024: Tue, Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Oct 16 – Dec 3, 2024: Tue, Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction to the kinds of reading and writing students will encounter in lower division courses across the university disciplines. Important aspects of the writing process are discussed and illustrated in class, and students receive individual feedback on their academic writing. Students who take this class will be graded using a Competency Based grading system (Pass/Fail). Students who wish to use the course to meet the language proficiency prerequisite of a writing-intensive course must obtain a P (equivalent to a C or better). Enrollment priority is given to undergraduate students who have not yet met the language proficiency prerequisite of a writing-intensive course. Students who receive an F grade on their first attempt at the course may re-enroll. No student may attempt the course more than twice. Units from this course count toward the units required for an SFU degree. The offering of this course is for credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Please note that not every section of FAL will cover all of these activities in this order, but all of the following general areas will be covered. Issues involving language, style, grammar, etc. may be covered in each unit, dealt with in assignments, or covered in one-on-one meetings with your instructor.

Academic Literacy and Academic Integrity 

  • Intro to course and explanation of grading scheme 
  • Intro to reading and writing in university 
  • Critical reflection on beliefs/previous learning about academic writing  
  • Reading and annotating academic texts 
  • Understanding genre and audience 
  • SFU academic integrity policies 
  • Plagiarism, paraphrasing, and patchwriting 
  • Citation styles 
  • Understanding ChatGPT and similar generative AI programs 

Working with other texts: summary 

  • Summarizing 
  • Paraphrasing 
  • Quoting 
  • Attribution/citation 
  • Practicing summaries of various lengths and text types 

Working with other texts: response  

  • Critical thinking 
  • Argumentation 
  • Expressing opinions 
  • Strategies for responding to texts 
  • Practicing responding to texts 

Research writing 

  • Intro to library resources/database searches and other online search tools  
  • Brainstorming, developing a research question  
  • Locating and evaluating credible sources 
  • Skimming/scanning/reading/annotating texts for use in research papers 
  • Outlining 
  • Drafting 
  • Peer feedback 
  • Revising 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

The course aims to provide students with a variety of opportunities to practice, develop, improve, and apply in context, different forms of academic literacy (reading, writing, and oral communication). FAL offers an introduction to the kinds of reading and writing students may encounter in lower division courses across the university disciplines. Important aspects of the writing process are discussed and illustrated in class, and students will receive individual feedback on improving their academic writing

Grading

  • Academic literacy and academic integrity unit 15%
  • Summary unit 20%
  • Response unit 25%
  • Research unit 40%

NOTES:

The individual components of each of these units is at the instructor’s discretion. Your instructor will inform you how you will be graded on things that may include but not be limited to the following: completing in or out-of-class assignments, engagement in class, giving peer feedback, improvement during the course, revision of writing tasks, completion of readings, quizzes, and/or more.

FAL X99 is graded on a pass/fail basis using a SFU’s competency-based grading system, which is “based on satisfactory acquisition of defined skills or successful completion of the course learning outcomes”.  

A grade of P, (pass, “satisfactory performance or better”) means you have successfully completed the course; it has no numerical equivalent and does not affect your term grade point average or your cumulative GPA.  

A Grade of F (fail, unsatisfactory performance) has the numerical equivalent of 0.00 and affects your GPA and CGPA as an F in any other course would

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Laptops may occasionally be recommended for in-class writing activities.

REQUIRED READING:

There is not a common textbook across all sections of FAL. However, the following books may be recommended or required. Check with your instructor.  Other materials will be handed out and/or made available on Canvas by your instructor. 

Heng Hartse, J. (2023). TL;DR: A Very Brief Guide to Reading and Writing in University. UBC Press/On Campus Books. 

This book is available in bookstores and online, and is also available as a free, downloadable Open Access PDF from the publisher here: https://www.ubcpress.ca/tldr-download 

 

 


Marshall, S. (2017). Advance in Academic Writing Book 2. Pearson/ERPI.  

This is Book 2 with a light blue cover. There is a digital eText version (ISBN: 978-2-7613-8266-3) available: https://www.pearsonerpi.com/en/elt/eap/advance-in-academic-writing-2-etext-my-elab-12-months-a38266) 

 


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.