Foundations in Analytical Reading and Writing:
​Developing Thoughtful Analysis and Clear Expression through the Study of Texts and Sentence Structure

Semester 1: Understanding and Analyzing TextsWeek 1-2: Introduction to Reading and Writing

• Introduction to the course objectives and expectations.
• Overview of How to Read a Book.
• Pre-assessment: Diagnostic reading and writing tasks.

Week 3-5: The Four Levels of Reading

• Text: How to Read a Book, Chapters 1-6
• Skills:
  • Understanding the four levels of reading: elementary, inspectional, analytical, and syntopical.
  • Identifying different types of books and their purposes.
• Writing Assignment: Write a reflective essay on personal reading habits and experiences.

Week 6-8: Inspectional Reading and Understanding Structure

• Text: How to Read a Book, Chapters 7-9
• Skills:
  • Practicing inspectional reading techniques.
  • Understanding the structure of a book: prefaces, introductions, chapters, summaries.
  • Diagramming simple sentences.
• Writing Assignment: Summarize the main ideas of selected essays using inspectional reading.

Week 9-11: Analytical Reading and Critical Thinking

• Text: How to Read a Book, Chapters 10-12
• Skills:
  • Practicing analytical reading techniques: identifying arguments, understanding logic.
  • Introduction to basic logical fallacies.
  • Diagramming compound sentences.
• Writing Assignment: Analyze the arguments in a selected article or essay.

Week 12-14: How to Be a Demanding Reader

• Text: How to Read a Book, Chapters 13-15
• Skills:
  • Formulating questions while reading to deepen understanding.
  • Learning to be an active reader.
  • Diagramming complex sentences with subordinate clauses.
• Writing Assignment: Write a critique of a chosen book or article, focusing on its strengths and weaknesses.

Week 15-16: Midterm Review and Assessment

• Review of all concepts covered.
• Midterm exam: A combination of reading comprehension, sentence diagramming, and an analytical essay.

Semester 2: Writing with Clarity and PrecisionWeek 1-3: The Principles of Clear Writing

• Text: Review relevant chapters from How to Read a Book.
• Skills:
  • Understanding the connection between clear writing and clear thinking.
  • Practicing writing clear, concise sentences.
  • Diagramming compound-complex sentences.
• Writing Assignment: Rewrite a poorly written passage to improve clarity and conciseness.

Week 4-6: Writing Analytical Essays

• Text: How to Read a Book, Chapters 16-18
• Skills:
  • Structuring an analytical essay.
  • Developing a thesis statement and supporting arguments.
  • Diagramming sentences with multiple modifiers and phrases.
• Writing Assignment: Write an analytical essay on a topic related to How to Read a Book.

Week 7-9: Engaging with Different Genres

• Text: Selected essays, articles, and short stories.
• Skills:
  • Reading and writing about different genres: narrative, expository, persuasive.
  • Comparing and contrasting different genres.
  • Diagramming sentences with various types of phrases and clauses.
• Writing Assignment: Write a comparative analysis of two different genres.

Week 10-12: Writing for Different Purposes

• Text: Selected articles and essays.
• Skills:
  • Writing for various purposes: persuasive, informative, reflective.
  • Understanding the audience and adapting writing style accordingly.
  • Advanced sentence diagramming with complex structures.
• Writing Assignment: Write a persuasive essay on a contemporary issue.

Week 13-15: Syntopical Reading and Research Writing

• Text: How to Read a Book, Chapter 19
• Skills:
  • Conducting syntopical reading across multiple texts.
  • Writing a research-based essay.
  • Diagramming sentences in research writing.
• Writing Assignment: Write a research paper using syntopical reading techniques.

Week 16: Final Review and Assessment

• Review of all concepts covered throughout the year.
• Final exam: Comprehensive reading and writing assessment, including sentence diagramming and an extended analytical essay.