Writing II
Welcome to Writing II.
This archived course site preserves materials from the January–June 2026 offering of Writing II, focused on paragraph and essay development in English at approximately the B1+ CEFR level.
| Class Location | Building 211, Mod. 2, room 1 |
|---|---|
| Class Hours | Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM |
| Instructor | Benjamin L. Stewart |
| Contact | Via Microsoft Teams Chat |
Description
Writing II is a practical subject aimed at developing paragraph and essay writing skills in English. This subject is taken simultaneously with Listening Comprehension and Conversation II, Grammar in Context II, Reading II, and Integration of Skills through Culture II, and is preceded by all subjects from Propaedeutic I. It supports the subjects in the area of Skill Development for Communication in English.
Objective
By the end of the course, students will compose paragraphs and essays in English at a B1+ level, of the CEFR.
📚️ Readings
Methodology
The course uses a student-centered methodology with a step-by-step approach that progressively builds foundational writing skills. It starts by exploring the purpose and structure of various essay types, including descriptive, expository, and argumentative. Students then learn to brainstorm and organize ideas through graphic organizers and outlines. Instruction highlights the importance of clear thesis statements and well-structured paragraphs that include topic sentences and supporting evidence. Consistent practice in drafting, revising, and editing fosters continuous improvement. Peer reviews and teacher feedback further refine writing, while targeted lessons on grammar, vocabulary, and transitions enhance clarity and coherence.
Assessment
| Descriptive essay (including pre-writing work, draft, and final essay) – Five weeks | 25% |
|---|---|
| Expository essay (including pre-writing work, draft, and final essay) – Five weeks | 35% |
| Argumentative essay (including pre-writing work, draft, and final essay) – Six weeks | 40% |
NOTES:
- 80% attendance is required to pass the course.
- The use of English will have a 50% value of the grade on each item evaluated.
- Class rules will be agreed upon on the first day of class. It is the student’s responsibility to become informed of said class rules if student is absent that day.
- APA style will be required for all written assignments.
- Plagiarism found in any of the required work – which includes unauthorized use of GenAI - will result in an automatic zero (0) for that work.
- Partial grades will be uploaded to E-SIIMA as a reference example of students’ assessment progress. Final grades will not correspond to the average of the uploaded grades.
Orientation
To get started, review the following:
- Content will be published online using Notion.so, which you may access either through your browser or through a Notion mobile apps.
- Review my GenAI Policy regarding the use of GenAI in my classroom. If you are working on improving your originality score, check out ELT Cast 126: How to increase one’s originality score when writing an academic text to get some tips on how you might modify your text. I always come from a place of support and guidance when it comes to helping you express your original voice and self-expression of the written word.
- I often use a Writing error code list when providing feedback on your writing and will often use these codes to refer to common errors made when writing an academic text.
- Review the UAA language departmental plagiarism policy 2024.
- Install Ámbito Académico UAA app.