(1) Objectives The objectives of this course are to help students improve the four basic skills in the English language--speaking, listening comprehension, writing, and reading comprehension.

(2) Class activities
All activities will be done in English. Students are expected to have conversation with their classmates in English. (You will receive a violation ticket for speaking Japanese without the teacher’s permission. If you receive more than two tickets a semester, there will be a penalty on your grade.) Students will practice to write a paragraph in English in class. (Please bring a red pen which will be used in reviewing your peer’s writing.)

(3) Textbook
「パラグラフ・ライティング入門」橋内武著　1995　研究社 　(以下PW)

(4) Schedule (as of September 30, 2008; may be revised)
09/30 Introduction
10/07 3-minute speech (everyone should be prepared) “One thing I have learned this summer is …”
10/14 Making an argument
10/21 No class
10/28 Writing a paragraph
11/04 Speech with PowerPoint presentation (Day 1)
-Select a topic for which giving a powerpoint presentation in English to an English-speaking audience seems reasonable, and then prepare a 5-minute powerpoint presentation on this topic. Please assume that your audience is not Japanese and that they do not have experience living in Japan or much knowledge about Japan.
-Everyone should be prepared to give one on the first day (11/04). If you decline to present one when you are called, there will be a penalty on your grade.
11/11 Speech with PowerPoint presentation (Day 2)
11/18 Writing a paragraph
11/25 Writing a paragraph
12/02 Writing a paragraph
12/09 Speech with PowerPoint presentation (Day 1)
12/16 Speech with PowerPoint presentation (Day 2)
01/13 Writing a paragraph
01/20 Final

(5) Grading
The grade will be based on class participation (attendance/speech/discussion), contribution to the group activity, and evaluation of assignments. If your overall attendance does not meet 2/3, you will not receive a passing grade.

(6) Academic Policy
-Students are expected to converse with their classmates only in English. (You will receive a violation ticket for speaking Japanese excessively without the teacher’s permission. If you receive more than two tickets a semester, there will be a penalty on your grade.)
-Presenting sentences that have been written by someone else as one’s own without proper acknowledgement (=plagiarism) is not accepted. Please remember that the goal is not to present flawless sentences, but to practice to produce one’s own sentences in English.