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National Yang Ming UniversityExtensive Reading and Literature Basic Syllabus

Fall 2006 Academic Semester

Instructor: Jonathan Cloud

8-12 (Friday)

I. Course Description:

This course is based on Dr. Richard Days Extensive reading courses at the

University of Hawaii, and involves students in reading large quantities of

materials in English. The goal is to improve students overall language ability

and their attitudes toward learning a new language. Students will have access to

English graded readers in the Yang Ming University Library or may benefit from

acquiring books from their own sources. The following are some principles and

benefits of extensive reading.a) Basic principles:

1. The reading material is easy.

2. A variety of reading material must be available.

3. Learners choose what they want to read.

4. Learners read as much as possible.

5. The purpose of reading is pleasure, information and general

understanding.

6. Reading is usually faster rather than slower.

7. Reading is individual and silent.

8. The teacher orients and guides the students

b) Benefits:

Better readers

Increased vocabulary knowledge

Improved listening and speaking skills

More positive attitudes and increased motivation

II. Textbooks:

Students will borrow easy reader English books from the campus library. A

complete list is available at the website: englishfun.ym.edu.tw/read/ or students

may find their own sources from personal libraries bookshops, or borrowing

suitable English books from family or friends.

III. Course Profile:

Each student is required to read at least one easy reader

English book a week.

Classes will be broken down into groups, where each student

will have a chance to share his or her reading experience.

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Each group will select one student to give a brief review of

his or her chosen book before the whole class.

IV. Grading:

Student participation will be assigned a number grade according to the

following criteria:

a) Completion of weekly reading assignment.

c) Participation (in English) in group sharing.

d) Attendance; being present in class, and being on time.

e) A brief written (or oral, if preferred testing over the students book of

choice will be administered by the instructor for both mid-term and

final exam requirements.

V. Attendance:More than 20 minutes tardy will be regarded as an absence. More than three

(3) absences a semester is an automatic failure for the semester.

VI. Office Hours:

Though there are no regular office hours, any student needing an

appointment should see the instructor prior to the beginning of class.

VII. Class outlineWeek 1: Introduction; Syllabus review

Week 2: How to read an English novel and enjoy it at the same time-

Week 3: What is literature? A brief review of the history of English Literature-

Week 4: the importance of the author-

Week 5: the scene: the where and the when of a story-

Week 6: What is a plot? The way a story-line makes sense-

Week 7: How to tell a story; make your sharing of a book interesting-

Week 8: major characters: defining their roles-

Week 9: mid-term exam

Week 10: minor characters: Why are they so important?

Week 11: Problem solving and crisis: without these the story is boring.

Week 12: the climax: the most important scene in any drama-

Week 13: the resolution: Should all dramas have happy endings?

Week 14: What is a protagonist? The good guy-

Week 15: What is an antagonist? The bad guy-

Week 16: realism or fantasy: the imagination in selecting a book-

Week 17: key topics; a review

Week 18: final exam-