Course Code: GEDU-101
Credit Hours: 3 (3+0)
Prerequisites: None
Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs):
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Write clear, structured, and coherent paragraphs and essays (Cognitive Domain, BT Level 3 – Apply).
- Identify and correct sentence errors, enhancing grammatical accuracy (Cognitive Domain, BT Level 4 – Analyze).
- Develop persuasive and descriptive writing skills (Cognitive Domain, BT Level 5 – Evaluate).
- Present ideas confidently in both written and oral forms (Affective Domain, BT Level 4 – Organize).
- Engage in comparative writing and produce formal written pieces like letters and reviews (Cognitive Domain, BT Level 6 – Create).
BT = Bloom’s Taxonomy
Course Contents:
- Paragraph Writing
- Structure and components of a good paragraph
- Topic sentence, supporting details, and concluding sentence
- Essay Writing
- Introduction to essay structure: introduction, body, and conclusion
- Types of essays (descriptive, narrative, persuasive, comparison, contrast)
- Descriptive Essays
- Techniques for vivid descriptions
- Creating clear imagery through sensory details
- Sentence Errors
- Identification of common sentence errors (fragments, run-ons, comma splices)
- Strategies to correct and avoid sentence errors
- Persuasive Writing
- Writing with the purpose of persuading
- Techniques such as ethos, pathos, and logos
- Structuring a persuasive argument
- Oral Presentations
- Planning and delivering effective presentations
- Techniques for engaging an audience and managing presentation anxiety
- Comparison and Contrast Essays
- Techniques to compare and contrast ideas effectively
- Structure and language of comparison and contrast essays
- Dialogue Writing
- Structuring dialogues in writing
- Writing realistic and engaging conversations
- Short Story Writing
- Elements of short stories (plot, character, setting, theme)
- Crafting engaging short stories
- Review Writing
- Writing critical reviews (books, films, events)
- Structuring a review with opinion and analysis
- Narrative Essays
- Crafting engaging narrative essays
- Writing with a clear point of view and narrative arc
- Letter Writing
- Formats of formal and informal letters
- Writing letters for different purposes (complaint, request, appreciation)
Teaching Methodology:
- Lectures: In-depth explanation of writing techniques and presentation skills.
- Written Assignments: Practice-based tasks for paragraph, essay, and creative writing.
- Semester Project: A comprehensive writing project that will require drafting, editing, and finalizing a formal piece (e.g., short story or essay).
- Oral Presentations: Students will present their writing topics, developing their speaking skills.
Assessment Breakdown:
- Midterm Exam: 30%
- Written Assignments: 5%
- Quizzes: 5%
- Oral Presentations: 5%
- Semester Project: 5%
- Final Exam: 50%
Textbook:
- College Writing Skills with Readings by John Langan, McGraw-Hill, 5th Edition.
Reference Materials:
- A Textbook of English Prose and Structure by Arif Khattak, et al., GIKI Institute.
- The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, 4th Edition.
- Writing Tools: 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark.
Weekly Course Breakdown
Week 1: Introduction to Paragraph Writing
- Basics of paragraph structure
- Topic sentence, supporting details, conclusion
Assignment: Write a structured paragraph on a given topic
Week 2: Introduction to Essay Writing
- Structure of essays (introduction, body, conclusion)
Assignment: Draft a simple essay based on a personal experience
Week 3: Descriptive Essay
- Techniques for writing descriptively
Quiz 1: Descriptive writing exercise
Week 4: Sentence Errors
- Identifying and correcting fragments, run-ons, comma splices
Assignment: Error identification and correction exercise
Week 5: Persuasive Writing
- Strategies for persuasion in writing
Assignment: Write a persuasive essay on a social issue
Week 6: Oral Presentations
- Techniques for effective oral presentations
Presentation Activity: Present a topic of choice in class
Week 7: Comparison and Contrast Essays
- Structuring a comparison and contrast essay
Assignment: Write a comparison and contrast essay
Week 8: Dialogue Writing
- Writing realistic and engaging dialogues
Assignment: Write a dialogue between two characters
Mid-term Exam
Week 9: Short Story Writing
- Elements of short stories (plot, character, setting, theme)
Assignment: Write a short story draft
Week 10: Review Writing
- Writing critical reviews
Quiz 2: Write a review of a book, film, or event
Week 11: Narrative Essays
- Crafting engaging narrative essays
Assignment: Write a narrative essay
Week 12: Letter Writing
- Formal and informal letter formats
Assignment: Write a formal letter of request
Week 13: Sentence Errors (Revisited)
- Advanced sentence error correction
Assignment: Proofread and correct a passage with multiple errors
Week 14: Short Story Revision
- Peer review and editing
Assignment: Revise and finalize short story
Week 15: Final Presentation Preparation
- Presenting the semester project in class
Assignment: Prepare for oral presentation
Week 16: Final Project Submission and Presentation
- Submission of semester project (essay, short story, or review)
- Final project presentations
Final Exam Review
This improved course outline provides a clear, structured, and practical approach to teaching Functional English, focusing on improving writing, presentation, and critical thinking skills. The inclusion of a 16-week breakdown ensures systematic coverage of each topic, enhancing students’ language proficiency in both writing and speaking.