Hello, September

A Prelude

contents

1. Rules

2. Grading

3. A Pool Project

4. CET4 Training Plan

5. Outline of the course

6. Official teaching plan

7. about critical thinking

1. Rules

• Cell Phone—NO

• notebook—YES

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2. grading

60%: final exam

40%: class performance• average of all the recorded tests / work / presentation / reports;

• + volunteering/ helpful / contributive, esp. in extra presentation and any other time-taking work • – absence / negative massive influence / violation of rules Each caught absence will take away 2 points from the 40 5 absences without asking will FAIL you in the final absolutely (how about 4 absences? 15 weeks: 3x15=45 times) Absolutely bad behaviors (using cell phone often, being late often,

etc ) will ALMOST FAIL you in the final. Warnings will be given when you are found having this problem ASAP. (e.g. “This might fail you in the final if you continue being like this.”)

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Discuss: how to get a fair mark

• 期末考试总结— e.g.

I. directions should be read very carefully, which is a part of the exam objectives

shade means shade ， not ticks or any other marks (examples)

II. common sense for taking exams: ID, headphone, pen & pencil & eraser, no late, no cheating, follow the instruction

III. the class performance includes what?

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3. Pools Project

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Pools Project-- pool of students writing

How to build a pool of essays: you write English essays and email me at any time during this

semester. Those who volunteer to “submit” essays get extra point for your class

performance part: 0.5-1.0 points / essay (maximum: 5 points)How to use this pool of essays: • you have to revise your own essay if I give you any advice.• we will read one essay from the pool together every week and think

about how to improve it.• you may get a chance to discuss your own essay with the instructor

face to face with an appointmentWhat to do if no volunteers or volunteers too few: • It would be your loss• I would try to persuade also.

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Pools Project-- Pool of students questions

Spontaneous questions (by emailing or in other proper ways):

• on anything, even if the really OLD questions are good questions;

• feedback to you once a week

Instructed questions (scattered mainly in the textbook passage learning):

a contributing component of our class.

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4. CET4 training Plan

(factually never be separated; this only for an outlining purpose)

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4. CET4 training Plan I From the beginning of the semester:

Step 1: stress Vocabulary: 每周一个同学讲解 5 个难单词 /表达Reading: 每周讲解三个难句 /较难的段落Writing: 每周讲评一篇学生作文，四级集训阶段每人会写至少 1 篇

Step 2: 自己平时马上就要开始的训练 快速阅读 +听力训练

Step 3: 最迟一个月后开始自己去做完整的几套题，发现自己的漏洞，集中攻克

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4. CET4 training Plan II Only-for- CET training stage ：

3-4 weeks before CET4 (12.18): -- starts from around 11.18

Procedure: 专项训练 --- 套题训练

• Never wait until then, a month before the test is far less than enough

• Cet4/6 题型分布和分值

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5. Outline of the course

pay special attention to what you need to do

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Independent study Instructed study

Non-textbook

New words report: Monday <in class> 1 report (5 words) each timeVolunteers first

Submitting to the writing pool <after class>

Ask me questions concerning the course: <after class>

CET4: make your own plan based on your estimation of your problems and strong points. <after class>

3 sentences learning : Monday

writing weekly: Tuesday

weekly special (0-3 times a week) --students are encouraged to volunteer to do this too.

textbook Exercises: esp. of In-class Reading

Read the passages for more times

Vocabulary

Find out your questions

<1> preparation<2> In-class reading After-class reading <3> Part III: partially<4> part IV: translation—selective

6. Official teaching plan

Wait until next week

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special notices:

on listening: suggestions and materials

(will be incorporated into the CE course according to my understanding and your needs)

on movies: your requirements are wanted

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7. onCritical thinking---the key step in second year study

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get started by thinking about the following statements critically or uncritically:

① One who gets college education must be better than one who does not.

② College is place you can make a lot of stupid mistakes.

③ Life is miserable without Thomas Edison.④ On the way to economic prosperity, sacrifices

like environmental pollution, unsafe food, examination-oriented education, deprivation of some civil rights of people are inevitable.

⑤ Television is the best source of information for the public.

⑥ Children have no idea about what’s the best for them, therefore it’s better for them to depend on adults’ decisions for their life.

An example of critical thinking in speaking:

1. A statement: Children should always learn from adults

2. Tedtalk: What adults can learn from Children

--- What is critical thinking? How to do critical thinking?

Can you critically think about the content or theme of the above speech now?

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• critical thinking in Writing (how to read the title/topic, how to brainstorm, ask yourself good questions, sound evidences, mature language. ) ---learn from textbook: ICR in the following weeks

• critical talking in daily life discussion (e.g. Too Young to Sail) ------basics of debating

• examples from the textbook

Go back to what you needa do

always prepared