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ENGLISH COMPOSITION I, FALL 2011

Instructor: Dr. Pei-Ju Wu
Office: Room 739
Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:10-3pm or by appointment
Email: peijuwu@dragon.nchu.edu.tw

Class/Location: AA501
Class Hours: Wed. 8:10-10:00
Phone: 22840322#739

Required Textbook

1.

Savage, A. & Mayer, P. (2005). Effective Academic Writing 2. Oxford: Oxford UP.

2.

You should also have the following:

1. Access to a college-level dictionary (e.g. Webster, Longman, OEDetc.)
2. A flashcard on which youll save copies of all your presentation scripts and writing
materials.
3. Access to Criteria: http://www.criterion.com.tw/
4. Access to Co-Life: http://www.colife.org.tw/
5. Access to E-Campus: http://ecampus.nchu.edu.tw/eCampus3P/Learn/Default.aspx

Course Description

English Composition (I) is designed to help students to develop writing ability as well as to
become active participants and language users. Although writing ability is the focus of the
course, a holistic integration of four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing is adopted
to support and to better enhance one another. Moreover, since E-campus is implemented while
online resources are abundant, it is part of the praxis that students will be using Criteria, an Elearning system, for keeping daily journals as well as creating alternative learning opportunities
with their peers. Learners' practice, involvement, and use of the language via face-to-face and the
networked multimedia are required. This kind of study can awaken our uses of language, the
structure of texts, the ideas that shape different cultures, and the interrelationships between ideas
and languages. In short, this course intends to open the floor to positive and active writers who
will learn to think critically and creatively and to express thoughts clearly.
Grading
I grade on a 10-point scale (A=90-100; B+=88-89; B=80-87; C+=78-79; C=70-77; D+=68-69; D=60-67;
F=59 and below). If you have a question about a grade you receive on an assignment, please feel
free to discuss it with me.
The weights for grading are as follows:
Class Participation & Mid-term Meeting (15%)
In-Class Writings & Assignments [Portfolio] (60%)
Criteria & Co-Life
(15%)
Final Presentation (10%)

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Attendance
This is not a lecture course. We will be working together to improve and critique your progress in writing.
This means that you will need to come to class regularly and participate actively in discussions and
exercises. If you are absent, you are responsible for learning material we cover in class and, except in the
case of emergencies, for arranging beforehand to submit any assignments due on that day. You are also
expected to attend an individual conference in my office. Missing your conference will count as an
absence.
In accordance with university policy, I will penalize your course grade. If you miss more than 3 classes,
you will automatically fail this course.
While the Universitys absence policy doesnt differentiate between excused and unexcused
absences, I understand that emergencies can happen. Under such extenuating circumstances, I will not
allow these absences to affect your grade if you meet all of the following requirements:
You notify me as soon as possible about the absences (preferably before they happen).
You provide a clear and reasonable explanation for the absences (and, when appropriate,
documentation).
You have been attending class and keeping up with your work before the absences in
question.
You attend class and complete all work in a timely manner after the absences in question.
Tardiness
Our class starts and ends at the scheduled times. On most days, Ill begin class with an intro or some other
kind of graded exercise. If you arrive more than 10 minutes late, it will be considered as one tardiness.
Three tardiness will be considered as one absence.
Office Hours and Email
You must have a working email address so that I can send you announcements and answer any questions
that come up between class periods. Please feel free to drop by during my office hours or to make an
appointment for other times. If you cant drop by, I check my email regularly, so dont hesitate to send
me a message if you have questions or concerns about the class.

Weekly Schedule
09/14:

Introduction: Course Design & New Semester Resolution

Michael Moores Bowling for Columbine (Writing is like Filming!!!)
Assignment: Self-Introduction (1 paragraph)

09/21: Unit I: Paragraph to Short Essay (EAW: p.2-p.19)

The Project of Happiness

Assignment: Food, restaurant, Cuisine (1 page, double-spaced, 2 paragraphs)
09/28: Unit I: Editing Skills (Peer Workshop) (EAW: p.20-p.26)
Assignment: Post Your Revised Self-Intro (Self-Intro Revision, 3 paragraphs)
10/05: Unit II: Descriptive Essays (EAW: p.28-p.47)
My Favorite Star: Bring One Photo to Class for Presentation
Assignment: One of Your Passions ( 3 paragraphs: What, Why, How much)
10/12: Unit II: Descriptive Essays (Peer Workshop) (EAW: p. 48-p.52)
Assignment: Movie Review (TBA)

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10/19:

Unit III: Narrative Essays (EAW: p.54-p.73)

Assignment: Honey Moon Travel Project (4 paragraphs)

10/26:

Unit III: Narrative Essays (Peer Workshop) (EAW: p.74-p.78)

Assignment: Revise all the papers that youve written.

11/02:

Unit I-III: Reviews

Assignment: Writing Contest Lucky Draw

11/09:

Mid-Term Meeting

11/16:

Unit IV: Opinion Essays (EAW: p.80-p. 99)

Assignment: Brainstorming Chart

11/23:

Unit IV: Opinion Essays (Peer Workshop) (EAW: p. 100-p.104)

Assignment: First Draft of your Lucky Draw

11/30:

Unit V: Comparison and Contrast Essays (EAW: p.107-p.120)

Assignment: My Two ? ; Make comparison

12/07:

Unit V: Comparison and Contrast Essays (Peer Workshop) (EAW: p. 121-p.128)

Assignment: Second Draft of your Lucky Draw

12/14:

Unit VI:Cause and Effect Essays (EAW: p.130-p.146)

Assignment: Sophomore Year Resolution (Outline)

12/21:

Unit VI:Cause and Effect Essays (Peer Workshp) (EAW: p. 147-p.157)

Assignment: Sophomore Year First Draft (5 paragraphs)

12/28:

Unit IV-VI: Reviews

Assignment: Sophomore Year Second Draft

01/04:

Final Presentation & Portfolio Preparation

01/11:

Final Presentation and Portfolio Due

Have fun & Good Luck!