English Composition for English Minor
Teacher: Kevin Chen 陳奏賢
English Department, Fu Jen University
Fall 2010
Course Description:
This course in composition is designed to help you improve basic writing ability. You will
learn the writing mechanics to produce a well-structured paragraph with topic sentence and
supporting ideas. To reinforce your writing ability, we will also focus on reading and
grammar practice. In this semester, we will begin with how to generate a topic from general
ideas, then to write topic sentence, and finally to organize sentences into paragraph. You
will be expected to participate in class discussions. Your final grade will be based on
attendance, assignments, participation in class discussions, and exams.
Course Requirements:
 Students are required to attend class regularly and to participate in class actively.
 Each journal and quiz stands for your presence, and the result will show in your final
grade.
 Please don’t miss the tests or presentations. No opportunities will be given to the
student who misses any of the exams.
 Absences resulted from emergencies, such as medical emergencies, family emergencies,


etc, can be discussed.
No late assignment will be accepted.
Cellular phones should be switched off during class.
Course Evaluation:
1. Attendance (40%)
a. Journals (15%)—Hand your Journal at the beginning of class
b. Quizzes (15%)—Quiz will be held 5 minutes after the class begins
c. Class Exercises (10%)
2. Composition: Narration and Description (20%)
3. Midterm Exam (20%)
4. Final Exam (20%)
1
Syllabus:
Week
Focus
Assigned Reading
Assignment
Correct Writing Ch. 1
Quiz 1
Sept 15 Class Introduction / Why do I need to
learn composition? /
Paper Format
Sept 22 Developing Ideas / The Parts of Speech
Sept 29 What is a paragraph? The Topic Sentence CW Ch. 2
Journal 1:
Icebreaking Activity 1
/ Recognizing Subjects, Verbs, and
Complements
Oct 6 The Narrative Paragraph / Verbals
CW Ch. 3
Quiz 2
Tikki Tikki Tembo
Oct 13 Supporting & Concluding Sentences
Oct 20 Paragraph Review / Phrases / Peer
Mark Twain & J. R. R.
Journal 2:
Tolkien
Icebreaking Activity 2
CW Ch. 4 / Handout
Narrative 1st Draft
CW Ch. 5
Quiz 3
Editing
Oct 27 Frequent Errors / Independent Clauses
Nov 3 Answering Essay Question
Nov 10
Class Exercise
Midterm Exam
Nov 17 Avoid Plagiarism / Dependent Clauses
CW Ch. 6
Narrative 2nd Draft
Plagiarism
Nov 24 Citation / The Sentence Fragment
Dec 1 Paragraph Review / Tense, Voice, Mood
CW Ch. 7 / Handout
Quiz 4
CW Ch. 8
Class Exercise
Dec 8 Introduction to the Essay / Agreement of CW Ch. 9 / Handout
Description 1st Draft
Subject and Verb
Dec 15 Introduction to Thesis Statement
Quiz 5
Dec 22 Writing Outline / Agreement of Pronoun CW Ch. 10
Class Exercise
and Antecedent / Peer Editing
Dec 29 Frequent Errors / Reference and Case of CW Ch. 11 & 12
Journal 3
Pronouns
Jan 5
Description 2nd Draft
Essay Review
Jan 12 Final Exam
*The syllabus is subject to change.
Textbook:
Butler, Eugenia. All.
Correct Writing. 6th Ed.
2
書林, 1997.