Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
1. COURSE INFORMATION
Course
Title:
Essay Writing
Instructors: Christian Poon [email protected]
Darren Ng [email protected]
Course
Website:
http://giflewriting.pbworks.com
2. COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Writing module introduces students to the four-step writing process
of
pre-writing, writing, editing, and sharing in essay writing. Additionally,
students will learn why writing is both a necessary communicative and
reflective skill critical to their on-going development as educators.
As trainees gain more confidence, experience, and skill, it is hoped that students will
experience the unique joy that comes from crafting writing that is sincere, passionate,
and meaningful.
3. COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. Trainees will improve their proficiency in English essay writing through various
individual and group writing activities, web-publishing, and consultation session
with their instructor. By the end of the course, trainees should be able to
independently produce a formal essay (of at least four paragraphs) comparable
to a paper written by a native English senior high school student.
2. As a secondary focus, trainees will also explore ways they can adapt the writing
strategies taught in class to their own classroom environments through group
discussions and sharing sample elementary writing activities.
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Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
4. STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
Students are expected to assume the identity of an emerging writer.
Therefore, we expect our students to…
…come to class on time (at least 5 min before the bell)
…work well in a team environment.
…be diligent in their work.
…be patient with themselves, their classmates, and their instructors.
…be enthusiastic in their attitude towards learning.
…be open-minded when they experience something new.
…be helpful in their relations with others.
…be persistent in difficulty.
…be eager to share what they have learned both at GIFLE at their home schools.
We hope that our students will…
…constantly improve their skills as writers and teachers.
…not compare themselves to fellow trainees, but to how much they have improved
since they first started.
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Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
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Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
5. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Students will be required to complete a formal essay on a topic approved by the
instructor and a “Show and Tell” presentation.
In addition, students will be asked to complete various additional assignments that
will help them prepare for their weekly writing focus. Assigned homework is due at
the beginning of the class of the date indicated on the course schedule in
print format. Students must also email their writing task assignments to their
instructor and save their work on a USB memory stick device.
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Writing Assignment ScheduleSession
dueAssignment
1 N/A
2Review course syllabus
“Getting To Know You” surveySelect your essay topic
3 Prewriting Exercise
4Write your Introduction paragraph
First draft of essay is due by your consultation date
5 N/A
Aug 9 Essay Final Draft is due
6 and 7Show and Tell discussion
“About Me” section on PBWorksUpload your essay to PBWorks
8 N/A
Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
6. EVALUATION
Section Marks Description
Major Essay 80
Trainees will submit a 500-750 word essay that
includes significant revisions based on their own
editing, peer and instructor consultation feedback.
(See assignment handout for more details)
Show and Tell Discussion
25
Trainees will select a writing activity, then
demonstrate and discuss how it can be applied to
their own English classroom.
(See handout for more details)
Classroom Contributions
10
Trainees will receive up to ten extra points for extra
contributions that benefit the classroom
community.
E.g. relevant articles, writing activity ideas, “Word
of the Day” contributions, curriculum posters,
resources for class website, etc.
Participation 5 For basic attendance and participation.
Total: 120 Marks
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Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
Late Assignment Policy
Trainees are expected to hand-in their assignments at the due dates indicated by their
instructor. Failure to do so will result in a 5% deduction per day towards their
assignment. If a trainee is unable to hand-in their assignment at the assigned due
date, the trainee should request an extension from their instructor at least 24 hours
ahead of time.
7. COURSE SCHEDULE
Session 1: Welcome to Writing Class!
Aims
1. To introduce trainees to the writing module, their instructor, and each other.
2. For trainees to reflect upon “Why is writing important?” in their role as EFL educators, and how
to overcome common barriers many Korean EFL teachers face when trying to write.
Class Schedule
1. Trainee Introductions
2. The Pile Game: Why is writing important?
3. Course administration
4. Introduce the GIFLE Writing website
5. Overview of major essay assignment
Assignments
1. Complete the “Getting to Know
You” survey.
2. Choose your essay topic.
3. Review Course Syllabus.
Session 2: The 4-Step Writing Process
Aims
1. Trainees will be introduced to their major writing assignment: composing a formal essay.
2. Trainees will learn how to use the 4-Step Writing Process (Prewriting, Writing, Editing, and
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Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
Sharing) to develop more effective essays.
3. Using examples of pre-writing for reference, trainees will create their own Pre-writing webs.
Class Schedule
1. The 4-Steps of Writing: An Overview
2. Prewriting for an essay
3. Formatting your essay properly
Assignments
1. Pre-writing for your essay
2. Sign-up for your consultation
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Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
Session 3: Essay Structure, Thesis Formula
Aims
1. Trainees will learn how to identify the essential structural components of essays and reproduce
these elements in their own writing.
2. Trainees will be introduced to the Thesis Formula and learn how to construct their own Thesis
statements for their “Introduction” paragraph.
Class Schedule
1. Components of an effective paragraph and essay
2. “Mixed Up” Essay Re-Ordering Exercise
3. How to write a good Hook
4. How to write a good Thesis
5. Using the “Thesis Formula”
Assignments
1. Compose an “Introduction”
paragraph (with Hook and Thesis)
2. Sign-up for your consultation
Session 4: English 101 and Body Paragraphs
Aims
1. Trainees will identify and correct common grammatical, stylistic, and formatting errors that
beginning Korean EFL writers often encounter through a group activity called, “English 101:
Dos and Don’ts in English Academic Writing.”
2. Trainees will gain a better understanding of the importance of editing their own writing and
learn Editing strategies through in-class discussion and editing time.
3. Trainees will learn about the components of an effective body paragraph and how to
incorporate these elements into their own writing.
Class Schedule
1. In-class sharing: your Hooks and Thesis
Assignments
1. Compose “Body” paragraphs and
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Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
sentences
2. English Writing 101: Dos & Don’ts in English
Academic Writing
3. Writers’ Workshop
a “Conclusion” paragraph.
2. First draft of your Essay
(Introduction, Body, and
Conclusion) is due by your
consultation date.
3. Sign-up for your consultation
Session 5: Referencing, Flow, Editing and
Sharing
Aims
1. Trainees will learn the importance of referencing outside sources to strengthen their writing
by using the MLA referencing format.
2. Trainees will learn how to use linking words and various bridging techniques to create more
coherent and cohesive writing (flow) by completing an in-class worksheet in groups.
3. To increase trainee proficiency in creating flow, trainees will be introduced to the Linking
Words Resource Pack.
Class Schedule
1. Introduction to referencing
2. Creating Flow using Linking Words
3. In-Class editing and sharing time
4. Group time to work on your Show and Tell
5. Mid-course Reflection
Assignments
1. Edit your paper using the
strategies we learned in class.
2. Ensure you have scheduled a
Consultation date with your
instructor
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Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
3. After your consultation, complete
the final draft of your essay and
submit by Monday, Aug 9, 2010
@ 8:55am.
Session 6: Web Publishing
Aims
1. Trainees will publish their completed essays and their “Show and Tell” writing activity examples
on their newly created PB Works page.
2. Trainees will compose a brief biographical introduction, entitled, “About Me” for their PB Works
page.
Class Schedule
1. Introduction to PB Works
2. In-class web-publishing time
3. Group time to finalize “Show and Tell” discussions
Assignments
1. Final Draft of your essay is due
2. Complete your “About Me” page
3. Publish all your writing
assignments (Major Essay and
“Show and Tell”) to your PB Works
Page
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Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
Session 7: Writing Activity “Show and Tell”
Aims
1. In groups of two or three, trainees will research several relevant writing activities that they can
use in their own
teaching contexts.
2. Groups will lead a brief “Show and Tell” discussion explaining how to adapt these writing
activities for their own
elementary English classes.
Class Schedule
1. Group Preparation Time
2. Group Writing Activity “Show and Tell” discussions
Assignments
Bring snacks for our last class!
Session 8: Read Aloud!
Aims
1. To encourage trainees both professionally and personally by doing a group read-aloud of a
short inspirational
writing piece.
2. To provide trainees with further online and offline writing resources to supplement their ongoing
development as
emerging writers and English educators.
Class Schedule
1. Welcome and Congratulations!
2. Student Reading
3. What’s next in our writing Journey?
Assignments
None!
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Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
4. Suggested Offline and Online Resources
5. End of course Reflection
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Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
8. RECOMMENDED READING
GRAMMAR TEXTS
1. Basic English Grammar 3rd Edition by Betty Schrampfer Azar, Pearson Education,
2002.
2. Fundamentals of English Grammar 3rd Edition by Betty Schrampfer Azar,
Pearson Education, 2002.
3. Understanding and Using English Grammar 3rd Edition by Betty Schrampfer
Azar, Pearson Education, 2002.
*The instructor also strongly endorses students to supplement the above
texts with a comprehensive Korean English grammar text.
KOREAN ENGLISH WRITING TEXTS
1. Hackers Writing Start by David Cho, Soul Shi Publishing, 2006
ENGLISH WRITING TEXTS
1. Effective Academic Writing: The Paragraph by Alice Savage and Masoud Shafie, Oxford
University Press, 2007.
2. Effective Academic Writing: The Short Essay by Alice Savage and Masoud Shafie,
Oxford University Press, 2007.
3. Effective Academic Writing: The Essay by Alice Savage and Masoud Shafie, Oxford
University Press, 2007.
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Gyeonggi-do Institute for Foreign Language EducationSecondary Teacher’s Intensive Program, July 19th – August 13th,
2010
For a complete list, please go to the RESOURCES section on our GIFLE Writing website; http://giflewriting.pbworks.com
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