Type of Credit: Elective
Credit(s)
Number of Students
Essay Writing is designed to help learners write college-level essays. We will start with a number of essay examples and analysis of their organization, content, lexis, and grammatical structures. As we proceed, learners will become aware of the common criteria and standards for good essays and, moreover, evaluate their own work against these standards. It is hoped that once learners realize the gap between what they are expected to do and what they can do, they will be able to strategically plan their learning and move forward accordingly. After lectures on key concepts, several in-class timed writing exercises are arranged to help learners practice what they know. Follow-up discussions of these in-class essay drafts then prepare learners for self-revision to improve the quality of essays.
能力項目說明
By the end of the semester, learners who have fulfilled the course requirements are expected to have acquired the following.
Peer and self-editing abilities as well as revision techniques.
| 教學週次Course Week | 彈性補充教學週次Flexible Supplemental Instruction Week | 彈性補充教學類別Flexible Supplemental Instruction Type |
|---|---|---|
|
Week |
Topic |
Content and Reading Assignment |
Teaching Activities and Homework |
|
1 |
Introduction |
Writing Exercises |
|
|
2 |
The Writing Process |
Criteria of and Expectations for Good Essays |
Explore Writing Tasks in Standardized English Examinations |
|
3 |
Essay Structure |
Topic Sentence |
|
|
4 |
Classification Essay 1/3 |
Cohesion |
Writing the First Draft |
|
5 |
Classification Essay 2/3 |
Coherence |
Peer Review |
|
6 |
Classification Essay 3/3 |
Supporting the Topic |
Revision and Proofreading |
|
7 |
Comparison Essay 1/3 |
Definition and Explanation |
Writing the First Draft |
|
8 |
Comparison Essay 2/3 |
Giving Examples |
Peer Review |
|
9 |
Comparison Essay 3/3 |
Various Types of Clauses |
Revision and Proofreading |
|
10 |
Cause-effect Essay 1/3 |
Grammar Exercises |
Writing the First Draft |
|
11 |
Cause-effect Essay 2/3 |
Building Vocabulary |
Peer Review |
|
12 |
Cause-effect Essay 3/3 |
Paragraph Transitions |
Revision and Proofreading |
|
13 |
Argument Essay 1/3 |
Online Writing Resources |
Writing the First Draft |
|
14 |
Argument Essay 2/3 |
Academic Style |
Peer Review |
|
15 |
Argument Essay 3/3 |
Doing Research |
Revision and Proofreading |
|
16 |
Final Examination |
||
|
17 |
Summative Individual Conferences |
||
|
18 |
Summative Individual Conferences |
||
Participation (20%): 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 (20%): 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 (20%): 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 (20%): 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 Essay Exam (20%): The final essay exam will be an argument essay, comprising a first hand-written draft completed in 40 minutes, followed by a revision using internet resources such as dictionaries, and a final version proofread with tools like ChatGPT. This component assesses your ability to write under time constraints and improve your work through revision. Expectations include the ability to produce a coherent, well-structured essay in the initial draft and to make substantial improvements in clarity, accuracy, and depth in the final version. Effective use of resources for proofreading and enhancement will also be evaluated.
TBA
https://moodle.nccu.edu.tw