GE1401 University English

Part I

Course Duration : One Semester
Area: GE English
Credit Units: 3
Level: B1
Medium of Instruction: English
Medium of Assessment: English
Prerequisite(s) : Grade D in HKAL Use of English or Grade 4 in HKDSE or successful completion of English Academic Proficiency Courses (EL0220, EL0222, EL0223 and EL0225 – 6 credits) or English for Academic Purposes (EL0200 – 6 credits)
Precursors(s) : None
Equivalent Course(s) : None
Exclusive Course(s) :None
Maximum Class Size: 25



Part II

Abstract:
This course aims to give students the necessary competence in rhetoric and writing in English so that they can use the English language effectively to think, reason, argue and express themselves. Students will develop a sense of their own strengths and weaknesses as English writers and discover how they can make their writing more creative, innovative and persuasive. They will also learn skills in argumentation, debate and research, which they will be able to apply to their future academic work.


Course Aims:

This course aims to develop students’ abilities to:

  • read critically a variety of English texts relevant to their university studies and future careers;
  • think and write creatively, logically, and critically;
  • understand and engage in a variety of processes essential to the production of well-formed texts;
  • communicate effectively in spoken and written English in a variety of academic settings; and
  • be self-directed in their English language development.

 



Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs)
Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

No.

CILOs

Weighting
(if applicable)

1.

Read critically and understand a range of text types in English, using a variety of reading strategies for different purposes, discovering how the ideas in what they have read relate to their own lives and academic disciplines.

 

2.

Use different points of view and perspectives in their writing and integrate the ideas and words of others in a way that avoids plagiarism.

 

3.

Produce a range of different kinds of writing based on purpose and audience, making use of various techniques including brainstorming, finding and evaluating information, revising, editing and proofreading. 

 

4.

Work together with others to improve their reading and writing through discussion, debate and peer conferencing.

 

5.

Use English as a tool for discovery and self-directed learning.

 

6.

Communicate orally in English in class discussions and videotaped assignments; listen critically and strategically.

 


Teaching and learning Activities (TLAs)
(Indicative of likely activities and tasks designed to facilitate students’ achievement of the CILOs. Final details will be provided to students in their first week of attendance in this course)

TLA

CILO No.

Hours/week
(if applicable)

Reading and discussion
Students read and discuss a range of written texts related to the selected topic(s) (e.g. journalistic, scientific, literary…etc), identify key ideas, authorial stances, rhetorical and stylistic strategies, and relate the ideas to their own views and experiences;

1

 

Research
Students conduct research in the library, on the internet and in the ‘real world’, and select, evaluate and synthesize information from reading when planning to write their original texts; Students engage in library workshops or self-access workshops or materials to get acquainted with the documentation of knowledge;

1, 5

 

In-class and Out-of-Class  Writing Activities
Students practice a variety of processes essential to the production of well-formed texts (including brainstorming, finding and evaluating information, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading and making use of the feedback from teachers and peers);

2, 3, 5

 

Peer and Instructor Conferencing
Students work collaboratively with teachers, peers, and instructors/teaching assistants in the Writing Centre in order to take control of and improve their writing;

4, 5

 

Speaking Practice
Students produce a variety of spoken outputs (such as discussions presentations, and videos) related to the selected topic based on readings and input sessions.

6

 



Assessment Tasks/Activities(ATs)
(Indicative of likely activities and tasks designed to assess how well the students achieve the CILOs. Final details will be provided to students in their first week of attendance in this course)

Type of Assessment Tasks/Activities

CILO No.

Weighting
(if applicable)

Remarks

Students write a descriptive essay, practicing their powers of observation and precision of expression as well as their ability to choose rhetorically effective details. They plan, write, revise and edit their work with the help of their teacher and classmates

3, 4

10%

 

Students write an article analyzing a specific problem associated with their own lives, discovering how they can use writing as a tool for self-discovery and decision-making. They plan, write, revise and edit their work with the help of their teacher and classmates.

3, 4, 5

15%

 

Students produce a written argument proposing a solution to a social, technological or academic problem. In this paper, they practise rhetorical techniques of argumentation and draw on evidence gathered through a variety of research methods including interviewing and reading from secondary source materials. They plan, write, revise and edit their work with the help of their teacher and classmates.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5

25%

 

Students produce a short ‘movie trailer’ style video promoting the ideas in one of the essays they have written and persuading viewers to read it. In the video they should use spoken English in a fluent and rhetorically appropriate manner

6

15%

 

Students take three reading quizzes designed to assess both their comprehension and their ability to analyse and interpret what they have read.

1, 5

15%

 

Students engage in a wide variety of in-class writing activities, four of which will be collected and assessed by the teacher.

3, 4, 5

20%

 



Grading of Student Achievement : 
Refer to Grading of Courses in the Academic Regulations (Attachment) and to the Explanatory Notes.

1. Descriptive Essay

Content/Topic/Originality  Total=3

3

Very interesting and original, full of lots of specific and concrete details.

2

Interesting and original. Most of the details are specific and concrete.

1

Fairly interesting. Many of the details are general, abstract. Some clichés.

0

Poor choice of topic and/or poor execution.

Structure/Organization  Total=3

3

Very effectively structured. Beginning and ending are very strong and the principle of organization is imaginative and logical.

2

Effectively structured. Beginning and ending are strong and the principle of organization is logical.

1

Some problems with structure/organization. Beginning and/or ending might be weak.

0

Poor or confusing organization.

Grammar/Usage/Style  Total=4

4

Hardly any errors. Style is appropriate and native-like.

3

A few minor errors. Style is appropriate.

2

A moderate number of errors (around three to five per 100 words). Style may be non-idiomatic.

1

A large number of errors (five to ten per 100 words). Style may be inappropriate or non-idiomatic.

0

More than ten major grammatical errors* per 100 words.

* Major grammatical errors include errors in verb tense and form, agreement, active/passive, reference, clause joining (fragments, comma splices, etc), word forms, word choice, preposition usage, article usage and any other error that might interfere with understanding. Minor errors include errors in spelling, capitalization, and small errors in punctuation.

2. Analysis Essay

Content/Topic/Originality/Execution  Total=5

5

Very interesting and original analysis excellent supporting points and convincing argument

3-4

Interesting and original analysis, good supporting points and fairly convincing argument

1-2

Fairly interesting. There may be some problems with the argument, organization or use of evidence

0

Poor choice of topic and/or poor execution.

Structure/Organization  Total=5

5

Very effectively structured.

3-4

Effectively structured.

1-2

Some problems with structure/organization

0

Poor or confusing organization.

Grammar/Usage/Style  Total=5

5

Hardly any errors. Style is appropriate.

4

A few minor errors. Style is appropriate.

3-2

A moderate number of errors (around three to five per 100 words). Style may be inappropriate at times.

1

A large number of errors (five to ten per 100 words). Style e inappropriate.

0

More than ten major errors* per 100 words.

* Major grammatical errors include errors in verb tense and form, agreement, active/passive, reference, clause joining (fragments, comma splices, etc), word forms, word choice, preposition usage, article usage and any other error that might interfere with understanding. Minor errors include errors in spelling, capitalization, and small errors in punctuation.

 

3. Argumentative Essay

Content/Topic/Originality/Execution  Total=10

9-10

Very interesting and original proposal, excellent supporting points and convincing argument

6-8

Interesting and original proposal, good supporting points and fairly convincing argument

5-2

Fairly interesting. There may be some problems with the argument, organization or use of evidence

1-0

Poor choice of topic and/or poor execution.

Structure/Organization  Total=5

5

Very effectively structured.

3-4

Effectively structured.

1-2

Some problems with structure/organization

0

Poor or confusing organization.

Evidence/Citation Total=5

5

Excellent use of evidence. Effective integration of other people’s words/ideas. Correct citation format.

3-4

Good use of evidence. Fairly effective integration of other people’s words/ideas. Correct citation format.

1-2

Some problems with amount or type of evidence used. Some problems with integrating other people’s words or ideas. Problems with citation format

0

Insufficient evidence and faulty citation practices.

Grammar/Usage/Style  Total=5

5

Hardly any errors. Style is appropriate.

4

A few minor errors. Style is appropriate.

2-3

A moderate number of errors (around three to five per 100 words). Style may be inappropriate at times.

1

A large number of errors (five to ten per 100 words). Style e inappropriate.

0

More than ten major errors* per 100 words.

* Major grammatical errors include errors in verb tense and form, agreement, active/passive, reference, clause joining (fragments, comma splices, etc), word forms, word choice, preposition usage, article usage and any other error that might interfere with understanding. Minor errors include errors in spelling, capitalization, and small errors in punctuation.

4. Video

 

13-15

Creative and rhetorically effective video containing clear, accurate, fluent and grammatically correct oral expression.

10-12

Fairly creative and rhetorically effective video containing mostly clear, accurate, fluent and grammatically correct oral expression.

7-9

Somewhat effective video containing mostly clear, accurate, fluent and grammatically correct oral expression.

3-6

Somewhat effective video, but oral expression may be unclear, inaccurate, influent and grammatically Somewhat effective video containing, bur oral expression may be unclear, inaccurate, influent and grammatically incorrect. ally incorrect.

0-3

Ineffective video, oral expression is unclear, inaccurate, influent and grammatically incorrect.

 

5. In-class Writing Assignments

 

4-5

Fulfils all requirements of the task,; demonstrates creativity, rhetorical skill and effort.

2-3

Fulfils most requirements of the task,; demonstrates some creativity, rhetorical skill and effort.

0-1

Does not fulfil requirements of task; shows little effort.

1

A large number of errors (five to ten per 100 words). Style e inappropriate.

0

More than ten major errors* per 100 words.



Part III

Keyword Syllabus
Writing as a tool for discovery
The process of writing
Descriptive writing
Analytical writing
            Process
            Cause and effect
            Comparison/Contrast
            Explication and exemplification
Argumentative Writing
Research and using evidence
Integrating other people’s words and ideas
Avoiding plagiarism
Academic citation styles

Related Links
English Language Centre