Course focus.
Read closely, think critically, and write with purpose. Students learn to ask researchable questions, evaluate sources, build arguments, synthesize evidence, and publish polished work in MLA or APA—plus clear visuals and confident speaking.
Inquiry & evaluation: lateral reading (SIFT), credibility, bias, reliability, primary vs. secondary
Argument & structure: research questions → thesis → outline → draft → revise
Using sources: summary, paraphrase, quotation, integration, signal phrases, avoiding plagiarism
Style & conventions: MLA 9 / APA 7 citations, grammar, clarity, tone, audience
Synthesis & rhetoric: rhetorical situation, appeals, analysis of nonfiction/media
Communication: informative/argument essays, visuals (tables/figures), and short presentations
Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Purdue OWL — Evaluating sources of information
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/conducting_research/evaluating_sources_of_information/index.html
Stanford History Ed Group — Civic Online Reasoning (lateral reading)
https://cor.stanford.edu/curriculum/
Purdue OWL — Quoting, paraphrasing, summarizing
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/using_research/quoting_paraphrasing_and_summarizing/index.html
Cornell Note-Taking System
https://lsc.cornell.edu/how-to-study/taking-notes/cornell-note-taking-system/
Google Scholar (starter search)
https://scholar.google.com/
MLA general format (Purdue OWL)
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_general_format.html
UNC Writing Center — Thesis statements
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/thesis-statements/
Purdue OWL — Developing an outline
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/developing_an_outline/index.html
Purdue OWL — Annotated bibliographies
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/annotated_bibliographies/index.html
ZoteroBib (instant citations & bibliographies)
https://zbib.org/
MLA in-text citations (Purdue OWL)
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_in_text_citations_the_basics.html
APA in-text citations (Purdue OWL)
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/in_text_citations_the_basics.html
UNC Writing Center — Rhetorical analysis
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/rhetorical-analysis/
Purdue OWL — The rhetorical situation
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/the_writing_process/rhetorical_situation/index.html
Datawrapper Academy — Make clear charts (free)
https://academy.datawrapper.de/
WebAIM — Color contrast checker (readable visuals)
https://webaim.org/resources/contrastchecker/
Purdue OWL — Poster presentations (design basics)
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/visual_rhetoric/designing_effective_poster_presentations/index.html
MLA sample paper (Purdue OWL)
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_sample_paper.html
APA sample paper (Purdue OWL)
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/apa_sample_paper.html
UNC Writing Center — Revising drafts
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/revising-drafts/
UNC Writing Center — Editing & proofreading
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/
WebAIM — Alternative text (how to write alt text)
https://webaim.org/techniques/alttext/
Google Docs — Version history (track revisions)
https://support.google.com/docs/answer/190843?hl=en
UNC Writing Center — Plagiarism (what it is & how to avoid it)
https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/plagiarism/