Syllabus of Research Project

Second Semester, 2009

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION
Research Project is a course that helps you experience methods of discovery, critical thinking, logical analyses, and problem-solving and even reach the demands of the community. It is a course that offers you a chance to go beyond what you know and think and incorporate ideas by others, and to present your integrated products. To involve in the course, you will need to choose a subject and do a series of studying and researching. You will need to access the Internet, to check out books from the library, and perhaps to interview several people to discover information or reach a new understanding. Most important, to present your integrated works, you will need to polish your writing and oral presentation skills. The class activities this semester will focus on the skill of presentation and video/audio projects.

II. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Class attendance, preparation and participation
2. Satisfactory completion of all the assignments

III. TEXTBOOK
Gibaldi, J. (2003). MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 6th edition. New York: The Modern Language Association of America. (書林書局代理)
(Optional) Stephen McDonald & William Salomone. (2004). The Writer’s Response: A Reading-Based Approach to College Writing. (書林代理)

IV. Evaluation:
1. Class attendance, participation, quizzes, assignments: 40%
2. Midterm exams and presentation: 30%
3. Final project: 30%


Weekly Schedule
Week 1
• Orientation
1. Midterm exam 1 focus: basic editing skill and punctuation and oral presentation
2. Midterm exam 2 focus: video project by PowerDirect
3. Final exam focus: video project by dubbing
• Comment on your final paper
• Presentation skills (visual aids and oral skills)

Week 2
1. Spelling
2. Punctuation
3. Italics
4. Names of Persons
5. Numbers
6. Titles of Works in the Research Paper
7. Questions
※(日)負責同學：15, 18, 21, 20, 31, 33, 13, 29, 32, and 37
(夜)負責同學：32, 33, 4, 30, 15, and 40
※以課本為主，可以額外加資料補充

• Practice: Santa Monica

Week 3
• Editing skills
1. Clauses vs. Sentences
2. Consistency in verb tense and verb voice
3. Subject-verb agreement
4. misplaced and dangling modifiers
5. Clear and concise sentences
※(日)負責同學：1, 2, 7, 9, 12, 23, and 10
(夜)負責同學：1, 31, 10, 38, and 11
※以課本為主，可以額外加資料補充

Week 4
• Sentence writing skills
1. Expand sentences
2. Condense sentences
※(日)負責同學：14, 25, 26, 34, 22, 30, 40, and 41
(夜)負責同學：10, 19, 35, 2, 3, 6, and 8
※以課本為主，可以額外加資料補充

Week 5 Review
Week 6 Review
Week 7 Midterm Exam I (written exam)
Week 8 Wrap up

Week 9 (April 5 to 11)
• Essay writing skill:
1. Unity and coherence
2. Introduction and conclusion
※(日)負責同學：5, 36, 38, 24, 19, 39, and 42
(夜)負責同學：9, 20, 28, 29, 22, 24, and 14
※以課本為主，可以額外加資料補充

• Presentation—writing genres: narration and description
• Readings:
1. Education
2. City life
※(日)負責同學：3, 4, 27, 10, 11, 16, 17, and 28
(夜)負責同學：25, 26, 34, 17, 12, and 41
※以課本為主，可以額外加資料補充

• 全班 Writing: An introduction to Shilin High School of Commerce

Week 10-11 • Midterm Exam I (oral presentation)(or Speech)
※Per group: 10 minutes

Week 12 • How to use PowerDirector
• Assignment: Finish your script of introduction to Shihlin High School

Week 13 • The practice of PowerDirector
• Assignment: Finish your script of introduction to Shihlin High School

Week 14 Midterm Project Due

Week 15 • Role-playing
• Readings:
1. Short play 1

Week 16 • Role-playing
• Readings:
1. Short play 2

Week 17 • How to do recording

Week 18&19 • The practice of dubbing and recording

Week 20 Final Project Due