This course aims to enhance the students’ command of English in both understanding and in writing scholarly essays. By reading and analyzing a number of exemplary texts in different literary genres, this course helps students to appreciate the language, the organization, and the style of these exemplary texts, to discover the ways in which effective expression and communication can be achieved, and to have a higher level of understanding by analysis and imitation.

Upon completion of this course, the students should (1) be able to understand complex texts of various kinds; (2) be able to appreciate the sophistication of texts beyond the level of the common daily language; (3) have a sense of style in writing; and (4) be able to creatively write the kind of scholarly essay that will be most useful when they themselves need to write and express themselves in a sophisticated and effective manner.