Dr Yih-Dau Wu
ydw20@nccu.edu.tw
Office: Research Building 717
Telephone: (02)2939-3091#88103
Writing and Reading (I)
(A) Goal
Writing
Students will be expected to write coherent paragraphs and complex essays demonstrating
proficiency with the basic rhetorical forms. This will include building essays with cohesive
introductions, middles, and conclusions. The whole text will be unified and coherent with
appropriate transitional devices bridging sections.
Reading
The reading skill training aims to develop students’ comprehension ability. The content
covers a series of tasks ranging from simple cognition of the elementary meanings of a
written text to the grasp of the author’s intention, the tone, and the central ideas.
(B) Requirements:
1. Write 6 essays and do 1 group presentation with great care and diligence.
2. Sit in one grammar exam (date to be announced) and participate in class activities
vigorously.
Evaluation:
Group presentation on one chapter of our textbook 20%
6 Essays including drafts and revisions 40%
Class participation 10 %; Mid-term: 15%; Final exam: 15%
N.B. We put great emphasis on group presentation this term. Co-operate with your partner
(two students in a group) and be well-prepared for this. Carelessness in all forms (i.e. failing
to present your ideas in clear and fluent English, unfamiliar with the materials you are going
to present, shambolic PPTs and so on) are NOT acceptable. You will be seriously penalised
for your apparent lack of preparation.
Schedule:
Week 1 (20th Feb.)
Introduction; The Persuasive Principle: How to convince
and affect your readers? Writing with a Thesis pp. 1-33.
th
Chapter 6: Introduction to the Essay, student presentation;
Week 2 (27 Feb.)
The body paragraphs, beginnings and endings from Steps to
Writing Well pp. 47-90
th
Week 3 (6 March) Chapter 7: The Example Essay
Student presentation; supplementary hand-outs from Writing
with a Thesis pp. 100-105
1
Week 4 (13th March)
Chapter 8: The Comparison and Contrast Essay
Student presentation; supplementary hand-outs from Writing
with a Thesis pp. 161-167; Essay 1 (the example essay) due
th
Week 5 (20 March) Chapter 8: The Comparison and Contrast Essay
Supplementary hand-outs from Steps to Writing Well
(Writing about literature)
th
Week 6 (27 March) Chapter 9: The Classification Essay
Student presentation; supplementary hand-outs from Writing
with a Thesis pp. 223-228; Revised essay 1 and Essay 2 (the
comparison and contrast essay) due
rd
Week 7 ( 3 April) National holiday
Chapter 9: The Classification Essay
Week 8 (10th April)
Essay 3 (the classification essay) due
Supplementary hand-outs from Steps to Writing Well
(Writing about visual arts)
th
Week 9 (17 April) Mid-term exam and revised essay 2 due
Week 10
(1st May)
Week 11
(8th May)
Week 12
(15th May)
Week 13
(22th May)
Week 14
(29th May)
Week 15
(5th June)
Week 16
(12th June)
Week 17
(19th June)
Chapter 10: The Process Analysis Essay
Student presentation; supplementary hand-outs from
Writing with a Thesis pp. 127-132; revised essay 3 due
Chapter 10: The Process Analysis Essay
Essay 4 (the process analysis essay) due
Supplementary hand-outs from Steps to Writing Well
(Writing about film)
Chapter 11: The Cause-and-Effect Essay
Student presentation; supplementary hand-outs from
Writing with a Thesis pp. 193-197
Chapter 11: The Cause-and-Effect Essay
Revised essay 4 and Essay 5 (the cause-and-effect essay)
due
Supplementary hand-outs from Steps to Writing Well
(Writing in the World of Work)
Chapter 12: The argumentative essay
Student presentation; supplementary hand-outs from
Writing with a Thesis pp. 277-284
Chapter 12: The argumentative essay
Revised essay 5 and Essay 6 (the argumentative essay) due
Supplementary hand-outs from Steps to Writing Well
(Writing in the World of Work)
How to incorporate definition into your essays
Writing with a Thesis pp. 256-258
Final exam and revised essay 6 due
2