ESL 25:
COMPOSITION FUNDAMENTALS REVIEW FOR NONNATIVE SPEAKERS
WINTER 2007, section #1324
The
class meets Monday through Thursday,
Prof. Kathy Sucher | sucher_kathryn@smc.edu
| Office: ESL 121 | Phone: 310-434-4752
Homepage: http://homepage.smc.edu/sucher_kathryn
(plan to check it daily)
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: This course reviews and
reinforces writing strategies including the composing process, editing, and
revision for English language. Extensive help will be given in vocabulary
acquisition and word forms, sentence structure, and word order. (A prerequisite
of a “C” grade in ESL 21B or English 21B or an equivalent placement is required
to take this course.)
TEXTBOOKS:
Houghton
Mifflin Company, Horizons (H)
– this is the only book that is required.
I expect to cover about 1/3 of the book (chapters 1, 2, 5, 8, and 10
which consists of approximately 120 pages.)
Also recommended is the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary or an equivalent
English-English dictionary. Many
students also find the Oxford
Collocations Dictionary helpful at the advanced level.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: This course is designed to
help English language learners who need more practice in writing beyond ESL
21A/B to be successful in completing English I for international students. Upon
completion of the course, students will be able to do the following:
·
Read
for main ideas, details, and inference
·
Demonstrate
critical thinking skills in reading and writing
·
Compose
clear, coherent, grammatical prose
·
Demonstrate
correct use of academic vocabulary and word forms in writing
·
Cite
source material using accepted academic format.
This
course will enable students to become more grammatically and stylistically
accomplished English writers, to gain a greater sense of confidence in their
own writing capacity, and to experience fulfillment in the act of writing
English essays.
METHODS OF PRESENTATION: Lectures| Discussions|
Student–teacher conferences| Peer group analyses| Self-evaluation
ASSIGNMENTS:
Reading:
You will
read approximately a dozen 2/4 page essays from the textbook. In addition, you will be keeping up with the
online discussion, which will entail reading approximately 25 paragraphs of
your classmates’ writing.
Online
Discussion:
These internet-based (eCompanion) discussions will include your responses to
readings, classwork and student writing; commentary on your own progress in the
class; and responses to classmates’ posts.
Essays: There will be 2 at-home essays based on assigned readings. You
will revise both of these at home. In
between writing and revision, you will meet individually with me.
Quizzes: Quizzes may be given on readings, grammar, vocabulary, and/or
editing skills. Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped; no make up quizzes will
be given.
Final
Essay: This
will be written in class on Monday, Feb 5th and revised in class on Weds, Feb 7th.
GRADING:
Online
Discussion 30%
Essays 20% (at home)
Revisions
10%
Quizzes
15%
Final
Essay and Revision 25% (in class)
ESL SUPPORT COURSES:
ESL
23 (
TUTORING:
The
ESL Department offers free tutoring to those students currently taking ESL
courses. Please sign up for tutoring in ESL 106 starting the second week of
class.
ATTENDANCE:
Your
active participation is essential to success. School policy allows for 6 hours
of absence in a 3-unit course. However, absences compromise your progress. If
you are not able to attend a class because of an emergency, please contact me
via email. If you accumulate an excessive number of unexplained absences, you
will be dropped. If you are absent, you are responsible for all work assigned.
It is your responsibility to ask someone in the class to collect any handouts
for you that are distributed in class.
As
a courtesy to your fellow classmates and the instructor, please arrive in class
on time.
Remember
also that you are responsible for dropping the course, if that becomes
necessary. Please be aware of dates and deadlines for doing this.
PROTOCOL:
All
pagers and cellular phones should be turned off before coming to class. Please
refrain from using your electronic dictionary during class time.
HONOR POLICY:
All
SMC students are expected to adhere to the SMC Code of Academic Conduct
regarding plagiarism and cheating. Students who cheat or plagiarize will
receive an “F” for the assignment or course. In addition, cheating is reported
to Admissions.
[NOTE: If you cut & paste from the Internet, you MUST cite the source of
the material; otherwise, it is considered plagiarism. Excessive use of tutors
for editing purposes is also considered plagiarism.]
[Also
Note: For your own peace of mind, please keep a copy of all material handed in
for grading and all other course materials until the end of the course.]
This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s
discretion.