July 2010 Elementary Syllabus Finalized

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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