Week

Date

Topic/Class Activity

Required Readings

Assignment Due

1

Sept. 15

Introduction

Close and Critical Reading

Chapter 1 “Good Writers are Good Readers” (pp 1-11)

Presentation assignment

2

Sept. 22

The Writing

Process

Chapter 2

Reading: “Ready, Willing, and Able” (pp 38-44)

Appendix: Using Sources in Your Writing (pp 699-733) (I)

3

Sept. 29

Basic Moves of Academic Writing

Chapter 3

Reading: “Modern Dating: Prehistorical Style”  (pp 55-61)

Appendix: Using Sources in Your Writing (pp 699-733) (II)

1^st essay topic

4

Oct. 6

Narration

Chapter 4

Reading: “The Sanctuary of School” (pp 84-89)

Reading: “Strangers” (pp 108-12)

Essay I-1^st draft

5

Oct. 13

Description

Chapter 5

Reading: “The Natural Order of a Small Town” (pp 135-39)

Reading: “Once More to the Lake” (pp 163-69)

6

Oct. 20

Peer Editing

Peers’ essays

Comments

7

Oct. 27

Example

Chapter 6

Reading: “Technologically Challenged” (pp 182-87)

Reading: “Commencement Advice” (pp 199-206)

Essay I-2^nd draft

8

Nov. 3

One-on-one conference

Individual discussions on a research topic and one’s own writing issues

2^nd essay topic

9

Nov. 10

Library Tour (1)

Library search: Find out useful literature

Spotting 40 errors/flaws in a Literature Master thesis

A written report

10

Nov. 17

Definition

Chapter 10

Reading: “The Celebrity Chef” (pp 388-99)

Reading: “How to Know If You’re Dead” (pp 102-09)

Essay II-1^st draft

11

Nov. 24

Peer Editing

Peers’ essays

Comments

12

Dec. 1

Cause and Effect

Chapter 11

Reading: “Behind the Curtain” (pp 466-79)

Reading: “The Way to Reduce Black Poverty in America” (pp 484-87)

Essay II-2^nd draft

13

Dec. 8

Argument

Chapter 12

Reading: “The Evil Empire?” (pp 532-39)

Reading: “I Have a Dream” (pp 553-59)

3^rd essay topic

14

Dec. 15

Writing Week

Searching, reading and writing

Essay III-1^st draft

15

Dec. 22

Peer Editing

Peers’ essays

Comments

16

Dec. 29

Library Tour (2)

Meeting at the first floor of the main library

Hands-on searching practice (lectured by a librarian)

Creating a working bibliography: Collect 12 critical papers for the next semester’s research project

17

Jan. 5

One-on-one conference

Oral and written report on your winter research project for a literary work: outline, abstract, argument, references

Essay III-2^nd draft

18

Jan. 12

Office hours

Further Individual discussions