Santa Monica College/ Fall 2007 
ESL 20B / Section 2125
Weeks 4 to 12 (September 17-December 7)/  Online
Arrange 4.5 hours per week to work on-line
Instructor: Janet Harclerode
Office: ESL 111/ Telephone 310-434-4569
E-mail: harclerode_janet@smc.edu
  Office Hours:  M 11-12, T 8:30-10:30 am, W 1-3 pm
VOH & other times by appointment
Homepage: http://homepage.smc.edu/harclerode_janet

ESL 20B: Advanced Grammar Workshop 2 (3 units)

Prerequisite: ESL 11A, ESL 11B

Course Description: This is an advanced ESL grammar course designed to increase students’ grammar and editing proficiency.  Students will recognize and employ more sophisticated language necessary for the successful completion of ESL/English 21A/B, English 22, ESL 25, and English 1.

Required Text:
Folse, Solomon, Smith-Palinkas, Top 20: Great Grammar for Great Writing

Recommended:
A portable English-English dictionary with usage examples (preferably a learner's dictionary)
Truss, Lynne, Eats, Shoots, and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation.

Course Objectives:

Methods of Presentation:
1. Lecture (scrolling text and/or Wimba);
2. Editing using threaded discussion;
3. Grammar exercises and practice tests;
4. Web Quests;
5. Writing assignments.

Method of Evaluation:
Homework, collaborative work,
& online exercises                              20%
Writing Assignments (3)                     30%
Tests   (3)                                             30%
Final Exam                                           20%

Homework:
In a regular on-ground class, you need to work approximately 2 hours for each hour you spend in class.  Therefore, for a 3-unit course, you are generally required to spend 6 hours outside of class in reading and studying.  In an online course, the lines between classwork and homework are blurrred, but you should expect to spend a minimum of 9 hours online with additional time for exercises, writing assignments, and study.  Please log on and work at least 3 times a week, ideally once per day.

Course Expectations
Everyone comes to the class with different expectations.  This online course DOES duplicate the content of the traditional course, but NOT the delivery. An online course relies on a self-directed student completing the readings and assignments on their own time schedule while meeting the posted deadlines. Students who perform at their potential, welcome change and are willing to assume responsibility, make decisions, and express opinions, are successful in this online course.

It is very easy to fall behind in an online class.  You are required to complete assignments and exams as scheduled on the syllabus. You must be a self-directed student who can plan your schedule to accommodate the deadlines outlined in the syllabus.

You are expected to visit the course website several times a week--ideally, once a day.  Once there, you will find announcements, lecture material, assignments, and exams. For the most part, a unit will be posted on Friday, and all the work in the unit will be due by the following Friday.  Pace yourself.  If you like to do schoolwork over the weekends, then work ahead, don't get behind.

Accessing On-line Coursework:
To get into the on-line component of ESL 20B, you must go to eCompanion
and enter ESL 20B.  From your home computer you should bookmark this site to access it easily.

Other Important Information:
1) Attend class regularly.  Students who do not attend class or complete assignments tend to fail their courses.
2) Develop virtual relationships with your classmates.  When working in the online course environment, it is important to read the postings and questions of your classmates, just as you would listen to your classmates' questions and contributions in a classroom environment. 
4) Complete all work when it is due.  No late work will be accepted without a legitimate excuse (e.g., technical difficulties).  If you cannot complete an assignment due to illness, an emergency, or a technical problem, you must contact me as soon as possible.  If you have technical problems with your computer at home, you need to make arrangements to complete your work in a library, computer lab, or at another computer.  Every college student has experienced problems with computers.  The best suggestion I have is to complete everything early in the week, so if you do have technical difficulties, you have time to fix them or visit a friend or library to do your work before the due date.
5) This is an asynchronous class, so you may work at your own pace, but you must heed assignment deadlines because I need time to read your work and give you feedback.

Using e-Companion
All students MUST have an SMC Computing Account to take this course.  If you do not have an SMC computing account, here is how you may get one. 
1. Go to SMC's homepage at http://www.smc.edu
2. Click on the link that says: Technology Resources (in the column on the left hand side of the homepage)
3. Click on the link that says: Request Student Email/Network Account
and fill out the form.  Please note, if you want to have all your e-mail sent to an already existing account, you need to indicate it on this form. 
Your grades will be posted on e-Companion, and classmates' e-mail addresses will be available through e-Companion, which you may access at: http://smconline.org (or by following the links from SMC's homepage=>Technology Resources=>e-Companion.

Tutoring & Other Support Services:
1. Free tutoring is available in the ESL center. Sign up on line by going to this site: http://www.smc.edu/esl/tutoringcalendar/.
2. Students may use computers in the Cayton Center, the library, and Drescher Hall 203 & 204.
3. Academic counselors can be reached in the ISC (434-4217) and in Counseling (434-4210 or 434-4589).
4. Psychological counselors can be reached at 434-4262 or through Student Health.

Communication with Instructor:
I have a strong preference for e-mail communication; however, I sometimes receive hundreds of e-mails a day.  Therefore, anything you would ask in class by raising your hand should be asked in a threaded discussion if possible to give your classmates the benefit of learning from your question.  If you e-mail me, you must type ESL 20B and your full name in the Subject Box.  Otherwise, I may not see your e-mail or it may be routed to my spam box. 

ESL 20B Tentative Schedule*

*Please note that this schedule may change at the instructor's discretion.