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.)
- 50%: Essays and Assignments
- 30%: PDF electronic portfolio that includes: An introduction, 3rd drafts of complex essay and one other essay, detailed description of revisions of each essay, and reflection
Attendance and tardiness: Attendance and punctuality are required for all class sessions.
You must have a multi-pocket folder or folders to keep your papers for this class. These will include the outlines and drafts for your compositions, peer review sheets, evaluation sheets, teacher feedback, etc. Always bring paper and pencil/pen to class; you can also bring your laptop computer.
MAJOR ASSIGNMENTS
EMAIL (Week 1)
You will compose an email about you writing experiences, motivations and goals for the course and send to the instructor.
REACTION/DESCRIPTION & RESPONSE PARAGRAPH (Week 2)
You will compose a description and response about a favorite place “bliss station” on campus.
PERSUASIVE ESSAY (Week 6-8)
You will compose a persuasive academic essay. The purpose is to “persuade your reader to agree with your point of view,” which should entail presenting “ways that opposing pints of view are mistaken” (p. 35).
CAUSE-EFFECT (Weeks 10-11)
You will write an essay that analyzes the causes and effects of a type of crime in your neighborhood, town, or society. The purpose of the essay is to “help your reader understand its impact on individuals and society as a whole” (p. 96).
COMPLEX ESSAY (Week 13-15)
Class will brainstorm topics on issue related to college student life, campus, or other locality in Taiwan and, as a class with instructor’s direction, decide three to five options from which you will choose for your complex essay. You will “crowdsource” supporting texts and materials, which will be approved by the instructor and posted in folders on Google Drive. The purpose is to “persuade the reader of your point of view” and you will include “at least two organizational structures [rhetorical forms]” (p. 171). Furthermore, you will support your thesis by citing sources in the essay and constructing a list of references using APA format.
ELECTRONIC PORTFOLIO (Week 16-18)
The culminating portfolio includes your third draft of the complex essay and that of one essay of your choice written during the semester. It also comprises a cover page, an introduction, explanations of essay revisions, and a self-evaluation. You will learn to use a PDF editor to finalize their portfolios. The portfolios will all be combined into a class book.
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