National Yang Ming University
Medical Literature in English Syllabus
Fall 2006 Academic Semester
Instructor: Jonathan Cloud
8-12 (Thursday)
I.
Course Description:
This course is an advanced level English reading, composition, and group
discussion class for medical students. Its goal is to engage students who have
already gained confidence in their English proficiency in the specifics of medical
literature, namely case studies.
II.
Textbooks:
The Fall 2006 textbook will be Oliver Sacks’ The Man Who Mistook His
Wife for a Hat (ISBN: 0684853949)
III.
Course Profile:
a. Oliver Sacks’ book of clinical studies will be one of two such texts for
the 2006-2007 academic year. The Spring Semester text will be
announced prior to the beginning of classes.
b. Medical students enrolled in this course will be expected to:
1) study the English text,
2) write intelligently and critically on each case,
3) actively engage his/her peers in discussing each case in English.
IV.
Grading:
Medical student will be assigned a number score according to the following
criteria:
a) class attendance
b) active participation in all-English discussion groups
c) short weekly compositions on cases
d)
V.
mid-term and final exams (in-class essays)
Attendance:
More than 20 minutes tardy will be regarded as an absence. More than three
(3) absences a semester is an automatic failure for the semester.
VI.
Office Hours:
Though there are no regular office hours, any student needing an
appointment should see the instructor prior to the beginning of class.
VII. Class outline
Week 1:
Week 2:
Week 3:
Week 4:
Week 5:
Week 6:
Week 7:
Week 8:
Week 9:
Week 10:
assignment: “The Lost Mariner”
assignment: “The Disembodied Lady”
assignment: “Hands”
assignment: “Witty Ticcy Ray”
assignment: “Cupid’s Disease”
assignment: “A Matter of Identity”
assignment: “Reminiscence”
assignment: “A Passage to India”
mid-term exam (in-class essay)
assignment: “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat”
Week 11:
Week 12:
Week 13:
Week 14:
assignment: “On the level”
assignment: “Murder”
assignment: “The Visions of Hildegard”
assignment: “Rebecca”
Week 15:
Week 16:
Week 17:
Week 18:
assignment: “A Walking Grove”
assignment: “The Twins”
assignment: “The Autistic Artist”
final exam (in-class essay)