SemesterSpring Semester, 2020
DepartmentForeign Language Center
Course NameEnglish Elective: Essay Writing
InstructorSHERIDAN CHERYL LYNN
Credit3.0
Course TypeElective
Prerequisite
Course Objective
Course Description
Course Schedule

 


































































































































































週次

課程主題



Topic

課程內容與指定閱讀



Content and Reading Assignment

教學活動與作業



Teaching Activities and Homework

學習投入時間



Student workload expectation

課堂講授



In-class



Hours

課程前後



Outside-of-



class Hours


  1.  

Course Orientation

  • Introduction to the course

  • Moodle classroom

  • In-class writing: Writing experiences, motivations and goals

  • Purchase textbook

  • Purchase folder with sections for class work

  • Log into Moodle & read:

    • Syllabus

    • Handouts on academic writing and the paragraph

3

4.5


  1.  

Academic Writing



 

  • Free-writing

  • Description and response paragraphs

  • What is academic writing

  • The paragraph

  • Assign presentation topics

  • Read and complete U1 pages 1-21

  • Prepare rhetorical form presentation

3

4.5


  1.  

Unit 1



Exploring the Essay

  • Kinds of essays



Rhetorical form presentations

Read and complete U1 pages 22-36



3

4.5


  1.  

Unit 1     Exploring the Essay



 

  • Essay structure

  • Vocabulary & Writing process

  • Page 37: “Which rhetorical form would you use?” exercise

  • Timed writing

  • Study for Exam

  • Read and complete U1 pages 40-55



 

3

4.5


  1.  

Unit 2



Comparison Essays

  • Test on Unit 1

  • Comparison Essays

  • Thesis statements

  • Outlines

  • Introduce comparison assignment

  • Developing a Comparison Essay



 

  • Read example comparison essays and respond to prompts.

  • Write out three comparison potential thesis statements

  • Write Comparison essay outline

3

4.5


  1.  

Unit 2



Comparison Essays

  • Com OL due

  • Discussion on thesis statements

  • Grammar for Writing, Building Better Vocabulary

  • Write rough draft in class

Write comparison outline & draft 1 (Com-D1) & upload to Moodle



3

4.5


  1.  

Unit 2



Comparison Essays

  • Submit Com-OL&D1

  • Written reflection

  • Lecture on peer review

  • Peer review exercises

  • Conduct peer review

Study for Unit 2 quiz

3

4.5


  1.  

Unit 2 Comparison Essays

  • Quiz on Unit 2

  • Com-D1 returned

  • Make comparison revision plan

  • Peer review training exercises




  • Write a Com-D2 & upload to Moodle

  • Print essay & all related documents

3

4.5


  1.  

Using Outside Sources

  • Com-D2 Due

  • Revision reflection

  • Longman Academic Writing Pp. 46-71

    • Paraphrasing and summary writing

    • Using and citing sources

  • Write a summary of a short article

  • Unit 4 Cause-Effect Essay textbook exercises

3

4.5


  1.  



 

Unit 4



Cause-Effect Essays

  • Cause-Effect Exercises Pp. 88-110

  • Introduce cause-effect comparison assignment

  • Prewriting, outline, rough draft



Write cause-effect outline & essay draft 1 (CE-D1) and upload

3

4.5


  1.  



 

Unit 4



Cause-Effect Essays

  • Submit CE OL&D1

  • Timed writing



Study for U4 quiz, including citation format

3

4.5


  1.  



 

Cause-Effect Essays

  • U4 quiz

  • CE D1 returned

  • Peer review

  • Cause-Effect essay revision plan

  • Making a reference list

  • Grammar & writing

Write CE D2



Read “It’s Not Your Opinion; You’re Just Wrong”



 

3

4.5


  1.  



 

Logical Fallacies

  • Submit Cause-Effect-Draft 2

  • CE-D2 revision reflection

  • Making a solid argument; logical fallacies activities

  • Introduce argument essay assignment; decide class topic options

  • Unit 5 Argument Essay textbook exercises

  • Decide argument topic

  • Write 3 possible thesis statements

  • Propose and choose sources from folder on Moodle

3

4.5


  1.  



 

Unit 5



Argument Essays

  • Unit 5 exercises

  • Review argument essay assignment

  • Outline, rough draft in class

Argument essay draft 1 (ARG-D1), incorporating sources.

3

4.5


  1.  



 

Unit 5



Argument Essays




  • Submit ARG-OL&D1

  • Grammar & writing

  • Review using in-text citations

  • Introduce the portfolio

    • Port Outline

    • Pair conferences

  • Portfolio parts

  • Draft 3 of comparison or cause-effect

3

4.5


  1.  



 

Unit 5



Portfolio

  • ARG-D1 returned

  • Peer review and revision plan

  • Portfolio

    • D3 Revision report

    • Self-reflection draft

    • Pair conferences






  • Portfolio parts

  • Draft 2+ of argument

3

4.5


  1.  



 

Portfolio

  • How to format and build PDF documents

  • Individual conferences

Portfolio:



Editing



Post on Moodle by the deadline



3

4.5


  1.  



 

Portfolio

Sharing and presentations to class about portfolio (5-10 minutes each)

Portfolio

3

4.5

Teaching Methods
Teaching Assistant

Kai 105504057@nccu.edul.tw


Requirement/Grading

All materials, including the written text, handouts, and any information spoken in class or written on the board is expected to be reflected in your work. Take notes, study the textbook and handouts. Keep all of the work you do during the course until after the final grades have been announced. 



Final grades will be determined by the following:




  • 20%: Attendance & participation (in-class writing, peer review, meeting deadlines, uploads, etc.)

  • 10%: Exam on Unit 1: essay rhetorical forms and outlines

  • 10%: Quizzes on Units 2 and 4

  • 35%: Assignments (presentation & handout, 2 timed writing, summary, 2nd drafts of two essays)

  • 25%: PDF electronic portfolio that includes: An introduction, a 3rd draft of one essay, final draft of argument essay, detailed description of revisions of each essay, and reflection



Quizzes/Exams/Presentations. Quizzes and presentation cannot be made up. Exam can only be made up or rescheduled for valid reasons



Attendance and tardiness: Attendance and punctuality are required for all class sessions.



WRITING EXERCISES AND ASSIGNMENTS



TIMED WRITING



Students will write two compositions in class simulating a standardized exam.



SUMMARY



Students will write a summary paragraph of a short article to prepare for using outside sources



COMPARISON ESSAY



Students will compose a comparison essay based on their own experiences.



CAUSE-EFFECT ESSAY



Students will write a cause-effect essay based on their own experience. Students will begin practicing in-text citations to refer to one or two articles as support for their own ideas and experiences.



ARGUMENT ESSAY ON ISSUE RELATED TO COLLEGE STUDENT LIFE, CAMPUS, OR OTHER LOCALITY IN TAIWAN



Class will brainstorm topics and, as a class with instructor’s direction, decide five options from which they will choose for their argument essay. Students will crowdsource supporting texts and materials, which will be approved by the instructor and posted in folders on Moodle. Writers will make a claim and then support it by citing sources in the essay. This will also construct a list of references using APA format. 



PORTFOLIO



The culminating portfolio includes a third revision of either the comparison or cause-effect essay and the best draft of the argument essay. It also comprises a cover page, an introduction, explanations of essay revisions, and a self-evaluation. Students will learn to use a PDF editor to finalize their portfolios. The portfolios will all be combined into a class book.



RHETORICAL FORM PRESENTATION WITH HANDOUT & OUTLINE (SMALL GROUP PRESENTATION)



Following in-class lecture and activities, students will form small groups. Each group will choose a rhetorical form, such as comparison, comparison/contrast, cause-effect, argument, etc. The group will create a handout and example outline for an essay of the form to share with the class as part of a 20-minute presentation on the rhetorical form.


Textbook & Reference

Suggested Texts:





Quizlet: 15 Logical fallacies flashcards https://quizlet.com/3659361/15-logical-fallacies-flash-cards/


Urls about Course
Moodle
Attachment