Advanced English(3)

Aims

This course responding to comprehend the texts and know how to analyze them correctly and effectively, and how to grasp the usage of some key words, phrases and sentence patterns, paraphrase and translate some difficult sentences, appreciate the effect of rhetorical device employed in the texts and help students buildup their vocabulary and also make them better understand some useful practical writing and speaking skills.

Learning Outcomes

1. Developing word-guessing skills

a) Be able to guess words according to the context and knowledge of word-formation

b) Be able to use words appropriately and effectively

2. Applying English Rhetoric Devices:

similes and metaphors

personification

repetition

hyperbole

paradox and irony euphemism

climax

anti-climax

cliche

Onomatopoeia

3. Analyzing and paraphrasing complex sentences

a) Coordination and subordination

b) Analysis of difficult sentence patterns

c) Employment of students’ own languages to paraphrase complicated sentences

4. Preparing presentations

a) Understand different types of literature, relevant topics and the unique features of the texts

b) Organize students’ ideas into a presentation

c) Develop the presentation and present it to the audience

5. Improving writing and speaking skills

a) Write relevant short essays

b) Discuss topics in groups and present it to the class and improve their speaking

Teaching and Learning

Lecture and presentations by the lecturer will be integrated with students centered in-class activities including oral presentation and exercises, independent, group and pair work. Class assignments include the introduction of the vocabulary, background knowledge, warming-up and detailed analysis of the text before the exercise and a number of discussions will be held on the topics introduced in class.

Assessment

Basic Reading List

1. Feng, Cuihua.English Rhetorical Options. Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, 2005.

2. Hornby, S. Albert.OxfordAdvanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English. OxfordUniversity Press, 2005.

3. Sorenson, Sharon.Webster's New World Student Writing Handbook. Webster's New World, 2009.