Teacher: Johan Wijkmark
[email protected]
054 – 700 16 01
Room 12B544
Language Proficiency A, 4.5 Credits
Course Outline, Fall 2009
Week 36
Wed. 2/9
8.30-10
1D236
Introduction to course
Lecture 1: Vocabulary building
Word Bank: Throughout the course you’re expected to contribute to a joint word bank. Each
week you send 3 words to [email protected], making sure to include the following exactly
in the subject line: Word Bank week #: Name. I will then assemble a document each week with
your list of words. Stick to the following format: Word (in bold face); word class; definition (try not
merely to copy a dictionary, but use your own words); an illustrating example sentence (i.e. not
just "He is a pennypincher," but rather "Being a pennypincher, he squirmed when he was left
with the check"); translation. Example:
Circumvent verb to avoid or bypass something; "He managed to circumvent all the complicated
regulations and get things done"; kringgå.
Week 37
Wed. 9/9
8.30-10
1D237
Lecture 2: The Basics of Essay Writing I
The writing process and text-types
In preparation:
Read Academic Writing: chapter 1-4.
Read the article “Why an American Revolution?” and the student essay “The Path to Fast Food.”
Identify the text types, thesis statements, and topic sentences.
Start writing the course essay, meeting the requirements of one of the text types
described in Academic Writing. Also consult the handout “Essay Checklist.”
Week 38
Wed. 16/9
10.30-12
1D236
Lecture 3: The Basics of Essay Writing II
Paragraphs and punctuation
Grammar and coherence
In preparation:
Find the meaning of 15 expressions (handout). Find 5 additional idiomatic expressions and e-mail
them to [email protected], including the following exactly in the subject line:
Idiomatic expressions: Name.
Read Academic Writing: chapter 6 (work with the exercises). Optional: see also Practical English
Handbook, 203-52, for additional information on punctuation, and more exercises.
Read excerpt from Stephen King's On Writing (handout)
Insert the punctuation in Peter Ackroyd’s introduction to Hard Times (handout), bring to lecture.
Important! Bring four copies of your course essay to distribute among your group mates for next
session. OR exchange contact info with your group mates in order to distribute your essay in
good time before next session, so that you give them plenty of time to prepare their response.
Week 39
Wed. 23/9
1B309
8.30-10
Group A
10.30-12
Group B
Week 40
Wed. 30/9
1D236
8.30-10
Group B
Seminar: Peer Response on Course Essays
Prepare to give your peer response on your group mates’ essays. NB! It is really important that you
prepare thoroughly for this so that everybody gets good input. Use the correction code
supplied in a handout when making comments about language.
Prepare your response also by reading pp. 329-33 in Academic Writing (“Writing Your Own
Research Paper: Pre-Writing, Response, Revision”).
Seminar: Thesis Statement/Subjectivism
Read the handout with introductions, prepare to discuss whether these are good introductions
(including the titles). Do they propose a thesis? Is it clearly stated? Are we given enough
information in the introduction to know what the rest of the text will be about? Etc.
10.30-12
Group A
Peer response on alternate introductions to the course essay: Reset the introduction of your essay
(and if necessary, the title) so that it meets the requirements of all three text-types. Bring
four copies of each (excluding the original type of your essay).
Revise your course essay and hand in the final draft.
Don’t forget to sign up for the exam! You need to do it at least one week in advance.
Week 41
Mon. 5/10
12B358
Group A
Wed. 7/10
8.30-10
1D226
Group B
Seminar: Improve the Essay
To be prepared in groups: Decide on one of the uncorrected student essays in the handout Improve
the Essay and suggest editorial amendments. Be prepared to present these in class, and
also to account for why you made these suggestions.
Course essay returned.
Week 42
Wed. 14/10
8.15-13.15
Essay Exam
Week 50
Thu. 10/12
8.15-10.45
VOC/MCT
Week 3
Thu. 21/1
8.15-13.15
Essay Re-Exam
Week 3
Fri. 22/1
14-16.30
VOC/MCT