WCSS 6051 Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7 & Week 8 Assignment & Discussion

WCSS 6051: Graduate Writing I - Basic Composition Skills

WCSS 6051 Week 1 Assignment 2 Writer’s Self-Assessment

WCSS/6051 Week 1 Discussion Your Experiences With Writing

WCSS/6051 Week 2 Assignment Critical Reading and Outlining

WCSS - 6051 Week 2 Discussion Reflecting on Your Writing Writing Process

WCSS 6051 Week 3 Assignment 1 Summarizing Main Points

WCSS-6051 Week 3 Discussion Reflecting on Your Writing Summary and Academic Integrity

WCSS_6051 Week 4 Assignment Paragraph Revisions

WCSS/6051 Week 4 Discussion Reflecting on Your Writing Paragraphing

WCSS 6051 Week 5 Assignment Order and Transitions

WCSS 6051 Week 5 Discussion Reflecting on Your Writing Scholarly Voice

WCSS6051 Week 6 Assignment Responding to Feedback

WCSS 6051 Week 6 Discussion Reflecting on Your Writing Precision and Clarity

WCSS/6051 Week 7 Assignment Final Draft

WCSS:6051 Week 7 Discussion Reflecting on Your Writing Proofreading

WCSS/6051 Week 8 Assignment Next Steps

WCSS6051 Week 8 Discussion Identifying Your S.M.A.R.T. Goals

                                       WCSS 6051 Entire Course/Class

Week 1 Assignment 2: Writer’s Self-Assessment

To prepare for this Assignment:

In addition to addressing specific issues covered in the Discussion, consider writing feedback you received from other sources, such as Instructors or faculty members or writing assessments. Consider any specific issues, problems, concerns, and strengths. Use the Learning Resources for this week to guide you through your reflection.

The Assignment:

Compose a 2-to-3-paragraph reflective essay that examines your experiences with writing. Use the information in the "Writer's Self-Assessment Checklist" document as a starting point but also consider feedback obtained from Instructors and other sources. You may choose to do any of the following:

·  Explain in detail any specific issues, problems, or concerns in your writing. Include specific examples. This is your opportunity to let the instructor know the types of issues you would like to address during the class.
·  Explain the strengths in your writing and why you believe these to be your strengths.
·  Describe any guidance or help found in the Learning Resources to address your writing concerns.
·  Briefly describe several actions you might use to further develop your scholarly writing.

Submit your Assignment using Walden’s APA Course Paper Template by Day 7.


Week 1 Discussion: Your Experiences With Writing

For this Discussion, you will explore the various resources and guidelines outlining an effective writing process and some common writing issues. You will also review the current state of your writing skills and share thoughts and experiences with your colleagues.

This Discussion will also be used to help tailor the individualized feedback provided by your Instructor throughout the duration of the course.

To prepare for this Discussion

·         Review and complete the Self-Assessment found in the Learning Resources to develop your needs and goals for this course.
·         Reflect on your writing and identify two to three specific areas of concern about your writing that you would like to address.
·         Also, consider any particular writing strengths or strategies that may support your writing.

Post by Day 3 a 1-to-2-paragraph reflection on your writing needs, identifying at least one specific writing issue you want to address in this class. You may also include any writing strengths or strategies that may support your writing.


Week 2 Assignment: Critical Reading and Outlining

To prepare for this Assignment:

Choose one of the preselected journal articles in this week’s Learning Resources. Applying the prewriting concepts from this week’s readings, critically read the journal article, taking notes or engaging in any other forms of prewriting that you would like to try.

Review sample outlines as provided in the Learning Resource “Writing a Paper: Outlining.”

The Assignment:

Select three related main ideas from the journal article (excluding the abstract). Compose a written outline of the article’s main points. Use the sample outline provided in the Learning Resource as a guide for capturing main points. Remember, you are not drafting a narrative summary of the journal article but short phrases of the article’s main points.

Submit your Assignment using Walden’s APA Course Paper Template by Day 7.

Week 2 Discussion: Reflecting on Your Writing Writing Process

For this Discussion, you will reflect on your own writing and how you have (or, perhaps, have not) engaged in prewriting activities, such as note-taking during critical readings and outlining. Based on what you have learned from the week’s Learning Resources, you will share your thoughts and experiences on the use of prewriting in your own writing practice.

To prepare for this Discussion:

·         Review the Learning Resources on the writing process, and prewriting, in particular.
·         Reflect on your writing process in relation to prewriting. You may even choose to consider how you approached this specific Assignment in relation to prewriting.
·         You may reflect on past or current examples of your research process, including this Assignment.

Post by Day 3 a 1-to-2-paragraph reflection on your writing process, describing components that you currently use as well as any components that you could use more effectively. (Note: You may choose to reflect specifically on how you approached this Discussion assignment in relation to your writing process.)


Week 3 Assignment 1: Summarizing Main Points

It’s time to give it a try! You have critically read your selected journal article, made notes, and outlined the main points. You will now put pen to paper (metaphorically, at least) and write a single first-draft paragraph, summarizing one of the article’s main points, chosen from your Week 2 outline.

To prepare for this Assignment:

·         Choose one main point from Week 2 Assignment Critical Reading and Outlining.
·         Review the Learning Resources related to summary and academic integrity.
·         Review the content of your selected journal article.

The Assignment:

Compose a first-draft paragraph summarizing one of the article’s main points. Remember that you are writing a first draft; the important thing is to begin committing your ideas in writing. While you should always strive for the best writing possible, at this stage, do not dwell too much on each word or overly edit your work. We will be spending the next weeks revising. Your submission should be 1 paragraph long.

Week 3 Discussion: Reflecting on Your Writing Summary and Academic Integrity

For this Discussion, you will reflect on your own writing in relation to summary and academic integrity. Based on what you have learned from the week’s Learning Resources, you will share your thoughts and experiences on summarizing with academic integrity.

To prepare for this Discussion

·         Read the Learning Resources on effective summary academic integrity.
·         Reflect on your writing process in relation to summary and academic integrity. You may even choose to consider how you approached this specific Assignment in relation to summary and academic integrity.

Post by Day 3 a 1-to-2-paragraph reflection on your summary skills, including any strengths as well as weaknesses. (Note: You may choose to reflect specifically on how you will apply the effective summary concepts in this week’s Assignment.) Be sure to address any strategies you may have to ensure academic integrity in your writing.


Week 4 Assignment: Paragraph Revisions

To prepare for this Assignment:

·         Review the Learning Resources related to revision and paragraph development.
·         Review your first-draft paragraph from Week 3 Assignment against the MEAL plan model.
·         Review the Infographic on MEAL plan guidelines

The Assignment:

Revise the paragraph from your Week 3 Assignment, to align with MEAL plan guidelines, so that your paragraph includes a main idea, supporting evidence, analysis, and lead-out. Your submission should be 1 paragraph long.

Use the following questions to guide the writing of your paragraph:

·         Does your paragraph begin with a clearly stated main idea?
·         Does your paragraph include evidence supporting the main idea?
·         Does your paragraph provide analysis and/or counterarguments?
·         Does your paragraph end with a lead-out sentence?

Week 4 Discussion: Reflecting on Your Writing Paragraphing

A well-organized paragraph is a central component to any piece of scholarly writing. This Week’s Learning Resources provide a useful framework to assess your first-draft paragraph for revisions in the Assignment, as well as to consider when drafting your next paragraph! In addition, you will review some general guidelines of effective revision practice.

For this Discussion, you will reflect on your own writing in relation to revision and paragraph development. Based on what you have learned from the week’s Learning Resources, you will share your thoughts and experiences on revision and paragraph development.

To prepare for this Discussion

·         Review the Learning Resources on revision and the MEAL plan.
·         Reflect on your writing process in relation to revision and paragraphing. You may even choose to consider how you approached this specific Assignment in relation to revision and paragraphing.

Post by Day 3 a 1-to-2-paragraph reflection on your revision and paragraphing skills, including any strengths as well as weaknesses. (Note: You may choose to reflect specifically on how you will apply revision and effective paragraphing concepts in this week’s Assignment.)


Week 5 Assignment: Order and Transitions

Assignment: Order and Transitions

How are you linking main ideas in your writing? Might changing your paragraph’s order of content improve cohesion or flow of ideas? Are you writing in an objective, scholarly tone?

For this Assignment, you will review the Learning Resources on scholarly tone and transitions. With the principle outlined in the Learning Resources in mind, try your hand at further revising your paragraph from Week 4 Assignment. You will also submit a first-draft second paragraph, focusing on a different main point from Week 2 Assignment Critical Reading and Outlining

To prepare for this Assignment

·         Review the Learning Resources on scholarly voice, transitions and, if necessary, the MEAL plan from Week 4.
·         Review the content of your selected journal article.
·         Choose another main point from Week 2 Assignment Critical Reading and Outlining.

The Assignment

Revise your paragraph from Week 4’s Assignment, ensuring you are effectively linking ideas and writing in a scholarly tone.

Additionally, compose a first-draft paragraph summarizing another one of the article’s main points that you identified in Week 2 Assignment Critical Reading and Outlining.

Submit your Assignment using Walden’s APA Course Paper Template by Day 7. Your submission should be 2 paragraphs long. Assignments that are submitted without using Walden’ APA Course Paper Template will not be reviewed by your Instructor.

Week 5 Discussion: Reflecting on Your Writing Scholarly Voice

To prepare for this Discussion

·         Review the Learning Resources on scholarly voice and transitions.
·         Reflect on your writing process in relation to scholarly voice and transitions. You may even choose to consider how you approached this specific Assignment in relation to scholarly voice and transitions.

Post by Day 3 a 1- to -2-paragraph reflection on your use of scholarly voice. (Note: You may choose to reflect specifically on how you will apply scholarly voice concepts in this week’s Assignment.) You may also choose to address your practice of applying transitions.

Week 6 Assignment: Responding to Feedback

By now, you have received multiple weeks of feedback from your Instructor. Are you consistently and thoughtfully addressing his or her feedback in your revisions? Please do, as feedback is intended to be considered and appropriately addressed. In addition, you will want to review your work for further revisions, ensuring your writing is clear and precise.

For this Assignment, you will review the Learning Resources on feedback and precision and clarity. With the principles outlined in the Learning Resources in mind, try your hand at further revising your paragraph from Week 5 Assignment.

To prepare for this Assignment:

·         Review the Learning Resources on feedback and precision and clarity.
·         Review feedback obtained from your Instructor (weekly Assignments) and from colleagues (Discussion posts). You may wish to make a list of topics that your Instructor has raised in his/her feedback to you over the previous weeks, and construct a reference file for use in your future revisions.

The Assignment:

Revise the two paragraphs from your Week 5 Assignment, addressing relevant feedback from your Instructor. You may also wish to add new content to your paragraphs.

Submit your Assignment using Walden’s APA Course Paper Template by Day 7.

Week 6 Discussion : Reflecting on Your Writing Precision and Clarity

This week’s Learning Resources will help you examine your work for precision and clarity. For this Discussion, you will reflect on your own writing in relation to precision and clarity. Based on what you have learned from the week’s Learning Resources, you will share your thoughts and experiences on revising for precision and clarity. You may also choose to reflect on your practice of responding to feedback.

To prepare for this Discussion:

Review the Learning Resources on precision and clarity

·         Review the Learning Resources on responding to feedback.
·         Review your Self-Assessment from Week 1.
·         Reflect on your writing process in relation to precision and clarity. You may even choose to consider how you approached this specific Assignment in relation to precision and clarity.
·         Reflect on your progress so far, based on your Self-Assessment from Week 1.

Post by Day 3 a 1-to-2-paragraph reflection on your use of precision and clarity. (Note: You may choose to reflect specifically on how you will apply concepts of precision and clarity in this week’s Assignment.) You may also choose to post a reflection on any changes in your writing process since Week 1.

Week 7 Assignment: Final Draft

You made it! You are now ready to make a final edit and proofread of your revised draft. At this stage, you have already made substantive revisions to your work. You are now fine-tuning your writing to ensure you have correct grammar and punctuation and that there are no other errors. Congratulations!

To prepare for this Assignment:

·         Review the Learning Resources on proofreading.
·         Review the Learning Resources on grammar and punctuation.

The Assignment:

Revise the two paragraphs from your Week 6 Assignment again, ensuring you have completed a full and careful proofreading of your 1-to-2-page summative narrative.

Submit your Assignment using Walden’s APA Course Paper Template by Day 7. Your final draft should be 1-2 pages long.

Week 7 Discussion Reflecting on Your Writing Proofreading

Proofreading and ensuring you have correct grammar and punctuation is an important final step before completing any scholarly writing assignment. Be sure to allot the necessary time for this step when planning the timeline for this and future assignments.

This week’s Learning Resources will help you effectively proofread your work so that you can submit a strong final draft. For this Discussion, you will reflect on your own writing in relation to final proofreading. Based on what you have learned from the week’s Learning Resources, you will share your thoughts and experiences on proofreading. You may also choose to reflect on any grammar- or punctuation-related issues.

To prepare for this Discussion:

·         Review the Learning Resources on proofreading.
·         Review the Learning Resources on grammar and punctuation.
·         Reflect on your writing process in relation to proofreading. You may even choose to consider how you approached this specific Assignment in relation to proofreading, grammar, and/or punctuation.

Post by Day 3 a 1-to-2-paragraph reflection on your use of proofreading.  (Note: You may choose to reflect specifically on how you will apply concepts of proofreading in this week’s Assignment.) In addition, identify any grammar-related issues in your writing and discuss how you addressed them in this course.

Week 8 Assignment: Next Steps

For this week, you will work on developing a writing process strategy to continue improving your scholarly writing, and you will incorporate your S.M.A.R.T. goals identified in this week’s Discussion. As you work on these last assignments, take time to reflect on all you have accomplished, how much you have supported and encouraged your colleagues, and the rewarding journey ahead.

To prepare for this Assignment

·         Review the feedback you received regarding your S.M.A.R.T. goals you identified in this week’s Discussion.
·         Revise your goals accordingly, based on feedback provided by your Instructor, your colleagues, and any other relevant source (e.g., other Instructors).
·         Review Learning Resources and consider how these resources might support your writing process.

The Assignment:

Submit by Day 7 a 2-to-3-paragraph reflection using Walden’s APA Course Paper Template in which you do the following:
·         Describe any strategies you might use for advancing your scholarly writing and why you selected these strategies.
·         Explain the types of resources you will use to support your writing process as you continue your scholarly journey (e.g., Walden Writing Center materials, support groups, professional learning communities, and regular Discussions with your doctoral chair).
·         Identify any potential issues you might face and provide strategies on how you might address these issues.
·         Congratulate yourself on at least one skill you have gained/improved upon during your experience in this course.

Week 8 Discussion: Identifying Your S.M.A.R.T. Goals

It is time to review your writing process by examining where you were when you started the course and by looking ahead to any further needs.

Your perception of your writing-process needs may have changed since the beginning of the course. How have your needs have changed, and what goals will you set for yourself as you continue your scholarly career? Here, you will take these findings and use them to identify strategies and goals that are specific, measureable, attainable, realistic, and timely (S.M.A.R.T.) to help you continue advancing your scholarly writing.

To prepare for this Discussion

·         Review your Self-Assessment from Week 1 Discussion and consider how your goals might be tailored to further develop your scholarly writing.
·         Review the Top Achievement website in the Learning Resources and consider what S.M.A.R.T. goals are and how you can develop your own S.M.A.R.T. goals to help you move forward in your dissertation/doctoral process.
·         Develop at least three S.M.A.R.T. goals to help you advance your scholarly writing. Use the S.M.A.R.T. model to ensure your goals are realistic.
·         Determine which Learning Resources might be appropriate to help you continue to improve your scholarly writing.

Post by Day 3 your three S.M.A.R.T. goals, and explain how these goals will help you move forward in your scholarly writing. Explain the barriers you might encounter that may hinder accomplishing your goals. Also, explain how you might address these barriers to completing your goals.

WCSS 6051 Grad Writing I