Writing and Essay Format
Expository English Essay Writing
Chapter I Course Orientation
1. General Introduction
This course is designed as an advanced writing course for advancced English learners. As is suggested by the title, the course will focus on one mode of English writing: exposition. We will first discuss briefly some essential issues about writing and the relationship between reading and writing as an introduction, laying special emphasis on the importance of mutual enhancement of critical reading and effective writing. The Expository Mode is discussed briefly in comparison with other modes of writing to strengthen the learners’ awareness of writing modes for effective writing and then the Three-Part Essay Format is introduced in detail as a universal essay organization in the hope that learners keep in mind the basic structure of English essays when they write in English. For the core contents we will move on to different specific Expository Modes, such as Exemplification/Illustration, Classification/Division, Comparison/Contrast, and Process Analysis, Cause / Effect, Definition and so on. Throughout the course, we will examine some expository essays written for both a general and academic audience. We will pay particular attention to critical analysis of quite a few essays (or "articles") that are widely regarded as writing models by both professional and amateur writers. Reading is assumed to be vital to effective writing — to provide effective models, help generate ideas for meaningful essays and develop and reinforce critical thinking skills. Therefore, critical reading will take precedence throughout this writing course. Of course, the focus of the course will be on what you can write with what you may learn from your readings — that is, on the essays you write yourselves as English learners and non-professional writers. For writing practice, you are supposed to keep a Reading Journal and write altogether four formal essays — one Classification /
Chapter I Course Orientation
1. General Introduction
This course is designed as an advanced writing course for advancced English learners. As is suggested by the title, the course will focus on one mode of English writing: exposition. We will first discuss briefly some essential issues about writing and the relationship between reading and writing as an introduction, laying special emphasis on the importance of mutual enhancement of critical reading and effective writing. The Expository Mode is discussed briefly in comparison with other modes of writing to strengthen the learners’ awareness of writing modes for effective writing and then the Three-Part Essay Format is introduced in detail as a universal essay organization in the hope that learners keep in mind the basic structure of English essays when they write in English. For the core contents we will move on to different specific Expository Modes, such as Exemplification/Illustration, Classification/Division, Comparison/Contrast, and Process Analysis, Cause / Effect, Definition and so on. Throughout the course, we will examine some expository essays written for both a general and academic audience. We will pay particular attention to critical analysis of quite a few essays (or "articles") that are widely regarded as writing models by both professional and amateur writers. Reading is assumed to be vital to effective writing — to provide effective models, help generate ideas for meaningful essays and develop and reinforce critical thinking skills. Therefore, critical reading will take precedence throughout this writing course. Of course, the focus of the course will be on what you can write with what you may learn from your readings — that is, on the essays you write yourselves as English learners and non-professional writers. For writing practice, you are supposed to keep a Reading Journal and write altogether four formal essays — one Classification /