Communicative Writing: Course Outline

Introduction: The Structure of Communicative Writing

• Communicative Writing is designed to be flexible to help you develop writing skills in areas that are important to you.
• Students taking the course for credit must complete the core activities.
• Returning students may choose their writing activities freely.
• If you have a type of writing you would like to study that you do not find on the class Web site, ask me.

1. Journal: You will write a journal which will count for 30% of your marks each term (see the Journal sheet).

2. Essay Tests:

• Communicative writing will not have any required essay tests this year.
• Essay tests are not a good way of testing your writing ability, but they are good practice if you plan to take a test such as the Test of Written English (TWE).
• Students who would like to practice writing under test-like conditions should see me to arrange a mock test.

3. Portfolio:

• During the term, you will write compositions on topics you choose.
• You will use several ways of revising compositions.
• You will use a checklist to review your own compositions. Other students will read your compositions, make comments, and ask questions.
• The teacher will make suggestions, ask questions, and mark mistakes in your compositions.
• You will revise your compositions based on classmates' suggestions, the teacher's suggestions, and your own ideas.
• During the term I will not grade your compositions (i.e., put A, B, C, D, etc. on them).
• You will keep all of your compositions you write. Together with your journal they make up your portfolio. Keep them in an envelope, folder, clear pocket file, or on disk.
• At the end of the year you will choose your 3 best compositions to give to me. I will put a grade -- A, B, C, etc. on them.
• These essays will be 70% of your mark each term, so be very careful not to lose them.

4. Materials:

• Two notebooks for your journal.
• Loose-leaf paper for compositions.
• A folder, envelope, or clear pocket file for your writing.
• A cassette tape of 60 minutes length (it need not be new). Be sure to write your name on the tape and the case. Do not break the tabs out of the tape or I cannot record.
• A Walkman style tape player. We do have some tape players here at Tokoha.

5. Composition Revision

• As in past years, I will use the tape you give me to respond to your composition.
• Give me your tape at the same time as you turn in your composition.
• At the beginning of each class, I will return your composition and tape with my comments.
• Listen to my comments and make the necessary changes to your composition.
• If you don't understand something I have said, or think I have misunderstood what you have written, say something to me.
• If you wish to keep all of the comments I make, be sure to stop your tape at the end of my comments each week and I will continue recording from that point.

6. Grading

• All of you enter this class with different writing abilities.
• My goal in this course is to start with your current writing level and challenge you to improve.
• If you do your journal each week, attend class regularly, show that you have written thoughtful compositions, and work hard on improving your writing, you will receive an A.

Text: A good English learner's English-English dictionary such as:

• The Cambridge International Dictionary of English
• The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
• The Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
• The Collins Cobuild Dictionary

The library has these dictionaries in the reference section, so you can see which one you like the best.

NB The above requirements are for students taking the course for credit. Noncredit students, are free to choose which compositions you write.

Duncan Dixon -- April 2002