Requirements

Composition
1.You are required to submit three compositions, two drafts each. Each composition will focus on a different rhetorical mode—description/narration, comparison/contrast, and synthesis. Follow the instructions below:

The first two compositions (i.e., description/narration and comparison/contrast) should relate to the theme of your group magazine. (For detail, refer to Point 2.)

The first draft has to be 3 pages in length, with pronoun agreement and subject-verb agreement checked. Any agreement error will automatically land your first draft on a failing mark.

The second draft has to be expanded to 5 pages long, with all the marked mistakes carefully corrected.

Both drafts have to be typed and double-spaced. (A sample with further instructions will be given to you for reference.) Make sure to keep your drafts clean and neat when you submit them.

Your American tutor will give you instructions and advise on composition skills. Attach all of their comments, as well as your original draft, to the draft that you submit to your instructor. Otherwise, you are violating the basic principle against collusion. (For detailed explanation of collusion, refer to a web page prepared by University of Texas at Austin.)

If you “borrow” or cite anything from a text, you should acknowledge the sources of the information. Plagiarism is NEVER acceptable or excused. (Please refer to University of Texas at Austin's web page for more information.)

Late compositions will be reviewed only, not graded.

2.The class will be divided into 4 groups of 4-5 members each, and each group has to produce a group magazine (GM) for the Class Magazine Project (CMP). Follow the instructions below:

The magazine should have a coherent theme. (Please enter the web classroom of this course and find a list of topics for reference.)

Each group member is required to include the first two compositions in the group magazine. The compositions should be at least 4 pages and should conform to MLA citation style if any reference is used in your essay.

A magazine cover, table of contents, and a list of works cited are required as supplementary to the magazine.

No written material should be included in the magazine unless they are corrected and approved by the instructor.

Plagiarism, either textual or graphical, is NEVER acceptable.

Prepare and hand in the magazine in both hard copies (one original and two Xeroxed copies) and diskettes.

3.In the Cultural Connections Project, each of you will be assigned a tutor with whom you are required to keep weekly email communications. These email messages should be compiled into five electronic journals (EJ) for collection. Follow the instructions below:

To make sure you can reach your American tutor, send him/her a short email message by Sept. 23. Also send a carbon copy to your instructor’s email box.

Faithfully follow the rules and instructions specified in the Cultural Connections Project.

Pay attention to netiquette.

Your first email composition is meant to be a self-introduction in which you formally introduce yourself. The fifth email message is supposed to be a formally-written reflective journal in which you review what you acquire in the project. Any other email correspondence with your tutor can be discussions of topics of your interest. However, try to avoid controversial or personal issues.

Depending on the duration between EJ collection due dates, you may have to submit more than one entry in each EJ due.

Meet the EJ due dates indicated in the syllabus. On EJ due dates, forward your electronic correspondence of both sides to your instructor's email box. Also submit a hard copy of your electronic correspondence.

Should any problem occur, request your instructor for help immediately.

4.After the Cultural Connections Project closes in late November, you start keeping talking journals (TJ), with your instructor as your intended audience. Follow the instructions below:

Keep at least one entry per week.

Hand in talking journals on due dates indicated in the syllabus.

Be original and spontaneous. (It is the thought that counts!)

In the talking journal, you can

1.	Take the initiatives in discussions, presentations, and other class activities.
2.	For Christmas Special, every group has to prepare a 5-10 minute oral presentation in which you are supposed to demonstrate your English proficiency. The presentation topic should be related to Christmas.
3.	Every group has to give a 10-minute group magazine presentation which will then be reviewed by another group. Also be prepared to give comments on another group’s magazine.
4.	Each group member has to share equal responsibility for every presentation such as group magazine presentation and fashion show.
5.	You are required to orally present your own synthesis essay. Four to five classmates of yours will evaluate the oral presentation as well as your synthesis essay. Also be prepared to give comments on another student’s presentation and synthesis.
6.	Participate in the web board discussions in the Cultural Connections Project. At the minimum, two times of participation is required.