Fall Semester, 2016
漢學英文 - Syllabus
I. Course introduction
The objective of this course is to improve your ability to read, understand, and critically
assess advanced written English. The course is organized around a textbook entitled
Inside Reading: the Academic Word List in Context. We will do the exercises found in
Inside Reading during class time, and so you simply need to review each chapter before
class. In addition to Inside Reading, we will spend time each week reviewing and
practicing different grammar points that appear frequently in academic texts. The final
component of the course consists of a series of short essays, articles and book
excerpts on Taiwan and China written by Westerners. I will expect you to devote the
majority of your preparation time each week to a careful reading of these materials.
Depending on our progress, I may also assign additional materials over the course of
the semester.
Although the course will be taught in English, you will not be graded on your command
of spoken and written English.
II. Grading
Class participation ＝ 20％
Two quizzes, each 10％ ＝ 20％
Midterm exam ＝ 20％
Final exam ＝ 40％
III. Books
You are not required to purchase the books we will use in the course. I will provide you
with the assignments each week in class.
IV. Course schedule
(Please note that the assignments listed below are provisional and subject to change).
Week 1 Course Introduction
Week 2 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 1a.
2. Grammar – Articles
3. Reading Assignment – George Candidius, “General Description of Formosa,” part
one
Week 3 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 1b.
2. Grammar – Relative Pronouns
3. Reading Assignment – George Candidius, “General Description of Formosa,” part
two
Week 4 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 2a
2. Grammar – Prepositions in relative clauses
3. Reading Assignment – George Psalmanazar, “An Historical and Geographical
Description of Formosa,” part one
Week 5 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 2b.
2. Grammar – Review and practice
3. Reading Assignment – George Psalmanazar, “An Historical and Geographical
Description of Formosa,” part two
Week 6 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 3a.
2. Quiz one
Week 7 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 3b.
2. Grammar – Noun clauses 1
3. Reading Assignment – George Mackay, “From Far Formosa”
Week 8 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 4a.
2. Grammar – Noun clauses 2
3. Reading Assignment –Marjorie Landsborough, “In Beautiful Formosa”
Week 9 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 4b.
2. Reading Assignment –Owen Rutter, “Through Formosa: An Account of Japan’s
Island Colony”
3. Review
Week 10 Mid-term examination
Week 11 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 5a.
2. Grammar – Participles
3. Reading Assignment –Justus Doolittle, “The Small–Footed Class;” W.A.P. Martin,
“The Scourge of Opium”
Week 12 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 5b.
2. Grammar – Adverbial Clauses
3. Reading Assignment –Pearl Buck, “Chinese Peasants;” “The Supreme Danger”
Week 13 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 6a.
2. Grammar – review
3. Reading Assignment – Edgar Snow, “Little Red Devils;” “Citizen Wang”
Week 14 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 6b.
2. Quiz Two
Week 15 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 7a.
2. Grammar – Inverted Sentences
3. Reading Assignment –“Taiwan: How to Reboot the Dragon;” “Why Has Taiwan’s
Birthrate Dropped so Low”
Week 16 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 7b.
2. Grammar – Comparative Structures
3. Reading Assignment – Sheryl Wudunn, “The Modern Woman’s Lot”
Week 17 Assignment:
1. Inside Reading, ch. 10a.
2. Review
Week 18 Final Exam