Course objectives:

1. To get students familiarized with different types of essays. 

2. To train students to write short English essays coherently and fluently.

3. Students are required to write weekly journal entries in the first two weeks and present their essays in peer review sessions of three, and revise their essays according to their reviewer’s comments.

Week 1       9/10     Self-introduction and brainstorming; grammar quiz; “The Most Memorable Moment in My Summer Vacation” writing in session.

Week 2       9/17     Peer review of last week’s writing in session; use ChatGPT or other online resources to improve your draft 1 and generate draft 2; resubmitted. 

Week 3       9/24     Grammar review session 1 (tense consistency); journal entry 1

Week 4       10/1     Journal entry 1 returned; journal entry 2 “My Typical Weekend”

Week 5       10/8     Journal entry 2 returned; Ways to start Introductory paragraph; essay 1: Place (Object) description

Week 6       10/15   Peer review of essay 1; Revision of essay 1

Week 7       10/22   Grammar review session 2; essay 2: Event description & reflection

Week 8       10/29   Mid-term

Week 9       11/05   Peer review of essay 2; Revision of essay 2

Week 10     11/12 Letter writing format; A Letter to Reconciliate with Your Family Member or Best Friend

Week 11     11/19    Individual consultation

Week 12     11/26   Grammar review session 3 (on “transitional” words); essay 3: A Comparison and Contrast between …(writers, styles of life, or a place then and now)

Week 13     12/03   Peer review of essay 3; Revision of essay 3

Week 14     12/10   Essay 4: a cause and effect analysis on …(the increase of random attacks, hiking housing prices, etc.)

Week 15     12/17   Peer review of essay 4; Revision of essay 4

Week 16     12/24   Final

Digital Assignments:

Week 17     12/31   Multimedia task

Week 18     01/07    Digital Feedback

1. 4 essays (50% =15% each essay). (Pay more attention to your revision. It involves not just editing, but sometimes also an entire structure change.)
2. 2 weekly journal entries (10%)
3. Attendance: 15% (2% deduction for each absence or extreme tardiness. Active participation also counts.))
4. Peer reviewConferences bonus: (presentation of your comments, summarizing andability, critical thinking ability) E. g.: provided peers with specific, constructive written feedback: 0-5 pts; participated actively in discussion (spoken feedback) of each paper: 0-5 pts; wrote specific response to peers’ feedback: 0-5 pts. Be specific. Don’t write “You have done a good job”) or “Your paper was interesting.” 8%
5. Mid-term + final: 20%
6. If you want to convert my final grade to a letter grade, the following is the conversion chart American Universities usually adopt: A= over 90, A- = 85-89, B+ = 80-84, B = 75-79, B- = 70-74, C= 65.