SemesterFall Semester, 2025
DepartmentForeign Language Center
Course NameEnglish Elective: Essay Writing
InstructorHUANG SHU-CHEN
Credit3.0
Course TypeElective
Prerequisite
Course Objective
Course Description
Course Schedule

Tentative Schedule











































































































#



Content and Materials



In-class Discussion and Writing



Homework



1



Introduction to the Course




  • Course Design & Objectives

  • Requirements & Grading Scheme

  • Writing Practice

  • Writing Experiences & Expectations



Meeting New Friends;



Sharing Writing Experiences;



Writing practice



 



2



External Writing Tests—the What and the How




  • Job Application, Civil Service exams

  • Graduate School Admission

  • Standardized Language Tests



Criteria & Standards




  • Common Rubrics



Discussion on Week 1 In-class Writing;



Report One Writing Exam;



A Marking Exercise (GEPT)



Writing a Self-introduction



Responding to Peer Posts



Read Sample Essays



3



The Product & Process of Essays




  • The Product: Essay Samples

  • The Process: Steps Involved

  • Essay Structure: Introduction (Thesis); Main Body (Topic Sentences); Conclusion



Practice Planning an Essay; Reading Essay Samples; Brainstorming Topics to Write about



Proposing Possible Essay Topics; Preview Classification Sample Essays



4



Argument Essay 1



Examining IELTS Writing Tasks



Mock IELTS writing



Visiting the Writing Center



5



Classification Essay 1/3



Analyzing Sample Essays



Outlining in Class



Draft



6



Classification Essay 2/3



Paraphrasing



Peer Review



Revision



7



Classification Essay 3/3



Author Exchange



Polishing



8



Argument Essay 2



Examining TOEFL Writing Tasks



Mock TOEFL writing



Visiting the Writing Center



9



Comparison Essay 1/3



Analyzing Essay Samples



Outlining in Class



Draft



10



Comparison Essay 2/3



Unity and Coherence



Peer Feedback



Revision



11



Comparison Essay 3/3



Author Exchange



Polishing



12



Argument Essay 3



Hedging



In-class Writing



Take-home revision



13



Cause-effect Essay 1/3



Analyzing Essay Samples



Drafting in Class



Draft



14



Cause-effect Essay 2/3



Paralell Structure



Peer Feedback



Revision



15



Cause-effect Essay 3/3



Author Exchange



Polishing



16



Final Examination




 



 


Teaching Methods
Teaching Assistant

TBA


Requirement/Grading

Participation (30%): Active participation is essential for success in this course. This includes regular attendance and meaningful contributions to the Moodle discussion forum. Students are expected to engage thoughtfully with course materials and peers, demonstrating their understanding and critical thinking skills. Consistent participation will be assessed based on the quality and frequency of your contributions, reflecting your commitment to the learning process and your ability to collaborate effectively with others.



Essay 1: Classification (10%): For the classification essay, you will submit both a draft and a revised version. This assignment evaluates your ability to categorize and organize ideas logically. The draft should demonstrate your initial understanding and structuring of the essay, while the revised version should show significant improvement based on feedback. Key expectations include clear classification criteria, coherent structure, and detailed examples. Adherence to language accuracy, appropriate vocabulary, and proper grammar will also be assessed.



Essay 2: Comparison (10%): The comparison essay, like the first essay, requires a draft and a revised version. This assignment focuses on your ability to compare and contrast two or more subjects effectively. Your essay should highlight similarities and differences clearly, with well-organized paragraphs and transitions. The revised version should incorporate constructive feedback, showing enhanced analysis and clarity. The use of comparative language, precise vocabulary, and grammatical accuracy will be critical in meeting the expectations for this essay.



Essay 3: Cause-Effect (10%): The cause-effect essay assignment involves identifying and explaining the causes and effects of a particular issue or event. You will submit an initial draft and a revised version, with the latter reflecting significant improvements based on instructor feedback. Expectations include a clear thesis statement, logical organization, and detailed explanations of causes and effects. The essay should demonstrate critical thinking, effective use of evidence, and linguistic precision, adhering to standards of coherence, grammar, and vocabulary.



Final Argumentation Essay (40%): The final essay exam will be an argument essay written completely offline without external support. This essay will be a showcase of your learning throughout the semester. Evaluation criteria include content, coherence, lexical range, and grammaticality.


Textbook & Reference

TBA


Urls about Course
https://moodle.nccu.edu.tw
Attachment