Miss Jamie Wu  107507009@nccu.edu.tw

ATTENDANCE, PUNCTUALITY & ASSIGNMENT/EXAM POLICIES

Attendance is important, and students are expected to come to class ON TIME! (Attendance/Lateness policy will be explained in the first class.) Students who are absent for more than half of total class hours without an appropriate reason will receive zero for both Attendance and Class Performance portions, and CANNOT partake in the final exam. All required assignments must be submitted to the instructor before the due dates. Note that NO assignments will be accepted after the deadline. The quizzes CANNOT be made up, and NO make-up final exam will be given unless you have received the instructor’s permission in advance.

To successfully complete the course, you must participate in assigned activities and take quizzes and the final exam. Your final grade is determined by the following course components:

• Participation: 20% (Attendance 10% + Class performance 10%)


• Quizzes: 20%


• Assignments: 20%


• Presentations: 20% (group 10% + individual 10%)


• Final exam: 20%

Participation

Your participation grade will be based on your attendance, homework preparation, and the

contribution you make to the learning experience of others. Contribution includes your questions to

the instructor, insights and comments regarding class content, answers to the instructor’s questions,

and reactions to other students’ contributions in class.

Quizzes

Throughout the semester, 4 quizzes will be given in class, including 3 listening quizzes and 1 speaking

task. The listening quizzes contain lecture listening, note-taking and comprehension questions,

and students are required to give their responses orally in the speaking task. More details will be

provided in class. 

Assignments

You will give 4 short Informative Talks (ITs) on topics discussed this semester (3 to your group

members and 1 to the whole class). Each IT focuses on a relevant subtopic of your choice, lasts five

minutes, and may include visual aids. Before the class, you need to upload the outline to the class

website. When you give your IT during class time, the other group members will then

practice note-taking strategies and give you feedback when the IT is finished. Note that your

feedback (e.g., notes and comments) will also need to be uploaded to the class website afterwards.

More details will be provided in class.

Presentations

You will give one Group Presentation (GP) and one Individual Presentation (IP). For the group

presentation, each group will report on an assigned topic. The presentation should last approximately

20 minutes, followed by a 5-minute discussion. Before the presentation, each group needs to upload

the PowerPoint slides to the class website. While presenting, each group will be evaluated by the

instructor as well as by their peers. For the individual presentation, each student will be assigned

by the instructor to give a 5-minute informative talk (on one of the chosen topics) with PowerPoint

presentation in front of the whole class. More details will be provided in class.

Final Exam

The final exam contains a listening test and an integrated speaking test. The listening test includes

lecture listening, note-taking, and comprehension questions. In the integrated speaking test, you will

be required to give your responses orally. You will need to demonstrate your ability to respond to

the questions clearly and coherently and the ability to accurately convey the information about what

you have read or listened to.

*** The grading rubrics for the group presentation/speaking test/note-taking exercise (attached below) will be available on the class website.

Coursepack: To be selected from the following list:

• References:

1. Beglar, D. & Murray, N. (2017): Contemporary Topics 3: 21st Century Skills for Academic Success.

   (4th ed.) Pearson Education.

2. Bonesteel L. (2017): 21^st Century Communication: Listening, Speaking, And Critical Thinking.

National Geographic Learning. 

3. Bonnesteel, L., Clements, P. & Curtis, J. (2020): Start Up 8. Pearson Education.

4. Day, R. R., Shaules, J. & Yamanaka, J. (2009): Impact Issues 3. Pearson Longman Asia ELT.

5. Dunkel, P. A. & Pialorsi, F. (2014): Listening & Notetaking Skills, Level 3. (4th ed.) National

    Geographic Learning/ Cengage Learning.

6. Frazier, L. & Leeming, S. (2013): Lecture Ready 3 (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

7. Kisslinger, E. (2017): Contemporary Topics 2: 21st Century Skills for Academic Success. (4th ed.)

    Pearson Education.

8. Lansford, L., Dummett, P. & Stephenson, H. (2016): Keynote (Advanced). National Geographic   

    Learning/ Cengage Learning.

9. Lim, P. L. & Smalzer, W. (2014): Listening & Notetaking Skills, Level 2. (4th ed.) National   

    Geographic Learning/ Cengage Learning.

10. Liu, J. & Harper, K. (2008): Communication Strategies 4, Cengage Learning Asia Pte Ltd.

11. Maclntyre, P. (2013): Pathways 4, Listening, Speaking, and Critical Thinking. National Geographic

    Learning/ Cengage Learning.

12. Rogers, M., Taylore-Knowles, J., Taylore-Knowles, S., & Wisniewska, I. (2015): Master Mind  

     (Level 1). (2^nd ed.) Macmillan.

13. Sarosy, P. & Sherak, K. (2013): Lecture Ready 2. (2nd ed.) Oxford University Press.

14. Stephenson, H., Lansford, L. & Dummett, P. (2017): Keynote 4. National Geographic Learning/    

      Cengage Learning.