On Behalf of BVU English Faculty Jim McFadden Kathy Kapitan Documentation Secrets from the World of Written Communication I and II (The Big Secret is There are no Secrets)

University Core Requirements Written Communication I – ENGL 100 Written Communication II – ENGL 200

The Recent DWC Program Review Reports: 1.Almost all SL DWCs (95%) require documented research papers. 2.Twice as many SL DWCs require APA style documentation as require MLA style (24:12).

Topics for Today 1.Objectives for ENGL Today, in All Sections of Objectives for ENGL Today, in All Sections of Additionally, in Some Sections of ENGL 100 and In Spite of These Efforts

In May of 2003, BVU English faculty approved the following objectives (among others) for Written Communications I – ENGL 100. Objectives for ENGL 100

1.Students learn to employ MLA documentation. 2.Students are introduced to APA documentation. 3.Students accomplish appropriate library research in available media: library books, library database articles, world wide web.

Today, in All Sections of ENGL Three of the four required papers require documented research. 2.Every student receives a comprehensive introduction to the MLA documentation system, including requirements for in-text and bibliography citations, quotation methods, document design, etc.

Today, in All Sections of ENGL Every student receives a general introduction to the APA documentation system. 4.Every student is required to purchase and use a handbook that covers MLA and APA documentation. All but one of the handbooks currently in use also cover CBE and Chicago documentation.

Today, in All Sections of ENGL Every student is required to evaluate their sources, including critical analysis of offline and online sources, and primary and secondary sources. 6.Every student is taught to distinguish between primary and secondary sources.

Today, in All Sections of ENGL Every student receives an introduction to plagiarism, paraphrase, quotation, summary, citation ethics, and credible use of research. 8.Every student is required to write a research paper (average length of 5-8 pages).

Today, in All Sections of ENGL Every student is required to use the library as one source for their research. 10. Every student is introduced to varied types of sources, location of sources, use of sources, and how to incorporate sources.

Today, in All Sections of ENGL All but one professor links the course directly with library. 12. All students receive an introduction to library research.

In May of 2003, English faculty approved the following objectives (among others) for Written Communications II – ENGL 200. Objectives for ENGL 200

1.Students learn to employ sophisticated research and organizational techniques, a variety of sentence patterns, mature diction, and well-supported claims. 2.Students accomplish critical assessment of library research in available media: library books and journals, database articles, and sources from the world wide web.

Today, in All Sections of ENGL Research and documentation is required in at least 3 of the 4 required papers. 2.Students are required to distinguish between primary and secondary sources. 3.Several professors require papers in MLA and APA styles, depending on students' majors.

Today, in All Sections of ENGL Documentation expertise is presumed and reinforced in Several professors provide course work and research on scholarly journals in varied fields. 6.Students are required to consider and research arguments from all perspectives as part of preparation for rebuttal arguments.

Today, in All Sections of ENGL Documentation is covered in all but one of the texts currently used in 200s; professors make use of online documentation sources such as textbook supplement sites, Noodles (a subscription site that accompanies some textbooks), the Purdue OWL, the OWL at the University of Missouri, as well as resources provided through the BVU library homepages.

Today, in All Sections of ENGL Students are required to purchase a handbook that covers MLA and APA documentation. All but one of the handbooks currently in use also covers CBE and Chicago systems. Most of the argumentation readers used in ENGL 200s also cover MLA and APA documentation.

Additionally, in Some Sections of ENGL 100 and 200 Several professors use assignments and show films on documentation. Several professors require students to critically evaluate sources within the papers. Some professors limit the research media students can use in their papers Some professors require comprehensive topic searches in all media.

In Spite of These Efforts Faculty can expect students need to understand how a citation style is attached to the discipline. Faculty can expect students need updates on disciplinary styles of documentation. Faculty can expect students need to ask questions about documentation styles.