Self-Promotion Art: Practical Chinese Writing
Course Description
In the era of self-media, writing skills for self-expression are key to maximizing personal influence. This course begins with an overview of the features and styles of four types of writing: descriptive, narrative, explanatory, and argumentative. The course then moves on to teach the principles of composing various documents, including resumes, project proposals, critiques and introductions, and micro writing. The ultimate goal is to assist students in effectively utilizing language to emphasize their attributes and thoughts.
Course Objectives
- Through various writing exercises, students will learn to adapt their communication style according to different writing purposes and attributes of articles.
- Through conducting peer discussions and receiving feedback, students will cultivate their awareness as a critical reader.
- By analyzing sample texts and studying teacher feedback, students will become familiar with the linguistic characteristics of Chinese language, hence reinforcing their self-awareness and self-editing skills in writing.
Weekly Schedule
| Week | Course Content |
| Week 1 | Course Introduction & Writing Warm-up Activity |
| Week 2 | Understanding the textual features of Descriptive, Narrative, Explanatory, and Argumentative Writing |
| Week 3 | Theme 1: Autobiography for General Purposes (My Story) |
| Week 4 | |
| Week 5 | Theme 1: Job Application Autobiography |
| Week 6 | Theme 2: Project Proposal (Topic Selection and Planning) |
| Week 7 | Theme 2: Project Proposal (Case Analysis) |
| Week 8 | General and Professional Autobiography: Reflection and Observation |
| Week 9 | Theme 2: Project Proposal Presentation |
| Week 10 | Theme 2: Project Proposal (Tips for Writing) |
| Week 11 | Project Proposal Practice: Observation and Discussion |
| Week 12 | Theme 3: Book Review and Introduction |
| Week 13 | |
| Week 14 | Book Review and Introduction: Observation and Practice |
| Week 15 | Theme 4: Micro Writing (Part 1) – Copywriting and Headlines |
| Week 16 | Theme 4: Micro Writing (Part 2) – Social Media Short Articles |
Others
- Attendance is mandatory, with NO MORE THAN THREE absences (including excused absences) throughout the semester. Punctuality is expected.
- Active participation in discussions and group collaboration is highly valued.
- Impromptu writing and post-class assignments, including both group and individual tasks, will be given. Every practice assignment may be discussed and shared with classmates; constructive criticism is encouraged.
- All writing assignments in this course must be original, and proper citation is required. Plagiarism, if detected, will result in a failing grade for the semester.
Grading Policy
| Types of Assessment | Weighting | Descriptions of Assessment |
| Class Discussion & Participation | 20% | Each class includes activities or group discussions related to the weekly theme. Students are required to participate proactively. |
| In-Class Assignments | 20% | Each writing theme includes an in-class assignment, totaling four assignments, each accounting for 5%. |
| Writing Performance | 60% | There are three writing assignments included in total: (1) Individual Assignments: 1. Life story or job application autobiography (15%) 2. Book review or introduction (20%) (2) Group Collaborative Assignment: 3. Project proposal (25%) |
