Fall 2009 CHI506 First-year Chinese I #31485
REQUIRED: Practical Chinese Reader I (available at Co-Op)
Chinese 506 Reader (course packet) available at UT copy center
located at Welch building.
LECTURER: Chih-Wei Elsa Chang
Office Hours: T 12:30p-2:00p TH 1:30p-3:00p
Office: WCH5.116 (TEL: 475-6041)
E-Mail: elsa_cwc@yahoo.com
TEACHING ASSISTANT: Lu Yi
Office Hours: TBA
Office: WMB 1.114, 475-6796
E-Mail: lvanne999@yahoo.com
Grading Policy
Lesson Tests 35%
Vocabulary Quizzes 15%
Writings 10%
Oral Quizzes for Fall semester 15%
Reading Quizzes 5%
Final (written 70%, skit 30%) 20%
You can drop the score of 2 Tests (You can not drop T.14)
1 oral quiz (You cannot drop any reading quiz)
2 Vocabulary quizzes (1 Quiz5 = Q5a + Q5b)
No make-up tests or quizzes will be given and all missed tests or quizzes are counted
as zero.
Note: Grading of all oral performance is based mainly on “tones”. However, other
factors such as fluency or accuracy if performed below average will affect your
final score.
All CHI 506 grades are calculated numerically throughout the semester. For transcript purpose,
letter grades are given at the end of the semester according to the conversion chart below:
A+ = 97-100, A = 94-96, A- = 90-93 B+ = 87-89, B = 84-86, B- = 80-83
C+ = 77-79, C = 74-76, C- = 70-73 D+= 67-69, D = 64-66, D- = 60-63
F = 0-59
1. Attendance: Following rules are also apply to students of “pass-fail” grade.
You are allowed a maximum of 4 “free” absences during the semester. These 4
days are set aside for your illness, social obligations, official duties, job
interviews or any other things that you must attend to, so use them wisely.
1. Each subsequent absence will result in a deduction of 0.5 point from your
semester score.
2. If you are absent 8 times (including the four “free” ones), you will be
penalized one letter grade (e.g., A-B) at the end of the semester.
3. If you are absent 15 times (including the “free” ones), you will get a “F” for
the course automatically.
4. Missing 10 minutes of each class (by either arriving late or leaving early)
will be viewed as a ½ absence. Missing ½ of the class is counted as 1
absence.
Note: 1. It is not your teacher’s responsibility to remind you of your attendance record.
2. If you have only one absence for the semester, you can drop one more score of
your choice, and if you have no absence, you can drop two more scores (only
one in each category). You can not drop any grade for “Reading quiz”.
* You need to make a grade “C” or above to take 507.
2. Homework
Homework should be turned in at the beginning of each class meeting (those
turned in at the end of the class will be considered late). Late homework should be
turned in within a week to receive a grade. A 10-point deduction will take place
for each extra day taken. Late works turned in after a week will only be corrected,
not grades. You will receive a zero for that assignment. Late corrections on
homework should also be turned in within a week to receive a grade.
There are two versions for character writing: the traditional version is used in Taiwan; the
simplified version is used in Mainland China. You can only choose one version for
writing and characters written in the other version will be counted as mistakes. However,
you are required to recognize both versions as they both will be used in tests and quizzes.
3. Quizzes and Tests
Note: 1. Unless specified otherwise, all the “Pate #” mentioned in the following
sections refer to the page # in Chinese 506 course packet.
2. For each quiz or test, check the content in the following notes and
check the format and grading in your sample sheet.
3. Whenever “stroke order” is tested, the test includes all the characters,
not just the large characters on top of the first page of your writing
homework.
Quiz 1,2,3,4 --- Same format. See “Sample Quiz 1,2,3,4” on P.236.
Each quiz covers two lessons. Ex. Quiz 1 in on Lesson 5&6.
Quiz 5-14 (or 15 for spring semester) --- Same format. See “Sample Quiz 5a
(L.13) and Quiz 5b (L.13) on P.237.
Quiz 15ab --- (for Fall semester only) counted as one complete quiz. Chinese
characters are given (half in traditional version and half in
simplified version) and you write the pinyin, tone and English
meaning. This includes all vocabulary.
Test 1-3 --- Same format. See “Sample Test 1,2,3” on P.229&230.
Test 1 --- 1. Pinyin sections 1-4 (on P.1-4), pinyin chapters 1-4 (on P.3)
The ones with * won’t be on this test.
2. Vocabulary (Lesson 1,2 on P.17, 18& P.147)
3. Radicals (on P.7)
Test 4 --- Lesson 10-12. See “Sample Test 4” on P.231.
Test 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 --- Same format. Vocabulary only. See “Sample Test 5”
on P.232&P.233.
Test 5 --- Lesson 1-12
Test 7 --- Lesson 8-14
Test 9 --- Lesson 10-16
Test 11 --- Lesson 14-19
Test 13 --- Lesson 18-22.
Test 6, 8, 10, 12 --- Same format. See “Sample Test 6” on P.234&235.
Test 6 --- Lesson 13, 14
Test 8 --- Lesson 15, 16
Test 10 --- Lesson 17, 18, 19
Test 12 --- Lesson 20, 21
Test 14 --- conducted in your TA’s office. You and your partner will read the
script that has no tone marks. (See “Skit Show” for details). Your
grade is based on your pronunciation, tone and fluency (similar to
your Reading quiz). The script must be your final version and you
should make no modification other than very minors changes after
this reading.
Reading Quiz --- Please see sample sheet on P.238 for grading method.
Readings are from the Chinese 506 course packet. You are quizzed on both
traditional and simplified versions.
Quiz 1 – week 4,5. Pinyin chapters 1-12 (on P.13-16) L. 1-10 (on P.119-
120 & P.132-133)
Quiz 2 – week 8, 9. L11-15 (including “reading texts”) on P.121-124 & P.
134-137)
Quiz 3 – week 12, 13 L.16-20 (including “reading texts”) on P. 124-127 & P.
137-140)
Note: If you miss your appointment, you will receive a zero for that quiz. It is
your responsibility to rearrange your appointment with you teacher or
your classmate ahead of time. A last minute cancellation is considered
a “no show”. Unless you can prove that you have a time conflict, you
must take the Quiz within the scheduled time.
Oral Quiz – Please see Sample sheet on P.238 for grading method.
The questions are in Chinese 506 course packet and the recording of the
questions is online. The first 10 questions are based on the “Reading Text”
(not the lesson itself) of each lesion in PRACTICAL CHINESE READER I.
You must answer in complete sentences.
Take lesson 13 as an example: the “Reading Text” is on your small textbook
P. 132. The questions are on your Chinese 506 course packet P.34.
Skit Show – Grading method for “performance” is on P.238.
This will be conducted on Tue. & Thu. Either in combined classes.
You have to be present in both classes to receive a grade.
Grading – script 50% (joined grade): Write your script in pencil.
Performance 50% (individual grade): “tone” is 50% of this grade.
Performance time – 5 minutes for 2 people. You must memorize the script.
Content – Choose your own topic. Try to make your story coherent and
interesting. You will be asked to rewrite the script –
1. if the story is incoherent, too short or too long , or has too many mistakes.
2. if it contains improper language or any humor in poor taste.
3. if you use the vocabulary and the grammar that you have not learned in this
semester. (For a few absolutely necessary key words, you can use English.).
However, you can look ahead in your textbook and use the vocabulary in the
remaining lessons.
Length – 2 pages (single space) per person. (A required format is provided on
P.217.) Each student is required to write two pages of the script.
Staple all the pages together and turn in only one copy. Write neatly.
No computer typing.
Due Date – Script (1) – Write in Chinese characters with English in the blank
space above the Chinese sentences.
Script (2) – If you are not required to rewrite, just erase the
English and mark the tones in the space, or rewrite and
mark the tones.
** Important: Before you mark the tones, remember to make a copy for each
player for the purpose of taking T14 (See previous page). Bring the
original copy also to T14, so your teacher can use it for the test.
Note: Costumes, props and music are encourage, but try to control your setting-up
time. You may ask your classmates to serve as part of the props, but you
should keep their involvement to the minimum and still fulfill your own
required performing time.
* It is the policy of the University of Texas at Austin that the student must notify each
instructor at least fourteen (14) days prior to the classes scheduled on dates he or she
will be absent to observe a religious holy day. For religious holidays that fall within the
first two weeks of the semester, the notice should be given on the first day of the
semester.
*The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic
adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the
Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY.
