Level 4 Grammar Syllabus Spring 2008       Advanced Grammar ESOL 0355            Credit hours: 3 lecture, 2 lab

Instructor: April Field     Email: april.field@hccs.edu    Gulfton office phone: 713 718 7750

Class meets: Mon / Wed        8.30- 10.10                             Computer Lab: Wed. 10.20-11.10

Office hours: before and after class                              Grades available on-line or 1-877-341- 4300

 

Text book:  Focus on Grammar 4 + Workbook (3rd edition) by Marjorie Fuchs and Margaret Bonner

Note: A student CD is an extra option. Some answer keys are included in the books for self study.

COURSE DESCRIPTION  ESOL 0355 is a continuation of ESOL 0352. This course provides a review of both essential and finer points of the grammatical features of formal written English. Emphasis is placed on active production and error analysis of standard English.

            ESOL 0355 Statement of purpose

ESOL 0355, Advanced Grammar, seeks to prepare students for college level academic or workforce study by accomplishing the following objectives:

·       Building on the syntactic knowledge that students have gained in previous study of English grammar while introducing more advanced structures as well as the finer nuances involving tense and aspect of English verbs; 

·       Strengthening students' abilities to produce the new grammatical structures in a variety of communicative contexts.

Grade Breakdown                                                         Grades:

      Chapter Tests                50%                                           A       90-100

      Homework/Lab/Quiz     10%                                           B        80-89

      Midterm Exam              20%                                           C       70-79

      Final Exam                     20%                                           IP       under 70 but making progress

1. Attendance: If you exceed a total of 8 hours of absence in any class (4 days of any class), you can be discontinued from all your classes. This will make F1 students out of status and cause visa problems. Please email me if you are absent or talk to me on your return.

2. Tardiness and in-class time absence: Classes and tests begin promptly, and repeated lateness of ten minutes or more will count as class absence. Disappearing during class is also absence. Do not use the computer lab outside our time.

3. Missed tests: At the end of the semester, I drop the lowest test score – but not the midterm or the final. Be on time and in class for all tests.

4. Assignments and quizzes:  Assignments are due on the next class day unless otherwise stated by the instructor. To get a grade, you are responsible for assignments and homework.  Work missed while absent has to be done on your return. Please get a classmate=s phone number to find out what you missed so that you can come to class prepared.

Quizzes and tests: There will be regular announced and other unannounced quizzes on homework or topics we have been studying.

5. Tutoring: Tutoring is available after school in room 105 and also from 9 -11 on Fridays in the audio lab. The Friday sessions finish at 11 a.m. so get there long before 10:30. These are good opportunities to work on topics which you find difficult. Your teacher will also be available before and after school or in lab time to help.

6. Academic Honesty (Dishonesty = Cheating): Any form of cheating or copying, (plagiarism) will result in a 0 for that assignment and possibly recommendation for probation or dismissal from the college system. Cheating includes copying from another student during a test, copying from a text or copying from the Internet and presenting it as your own work. See the HCC Handbook for more information.

7. Withdrawals:  The last day students may withdraw or be dropped from a class with a grade of W is April 3. Students who have excessive absences after that date will receive the grades they earn

8. Repeating students: Students who repeat a course for a third or more times will face a tuition fee increase of $75 at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. Ask your instructor or speak to a counselor about opportunities for tutoring or other assistance prior to considering course withdrawal or if not receiving passing grades. After failing a class a second time, a student will receive an F for that class.

9. Students with Disabilities: Students with a learning or physical disability which might affect their performance in class should contact the HCCS disabilities counselor, Dr. Becky Hauri at 713-718-7909,

10. Sexual Harassment Policy: Sexual harassment in any form is not tolerated at Houston Community College. See the HCCS Student Handbook for further information.

Courtesy and classroom behavior: Turn off cell phones before class or set to vibrate for an emergency situation.

To maximize your learning, use English only during class time and sit next to someone who does not speak your language. We need to treat everyone with respect by paying attention in class and encouraging all students to participate. Questions about the course are welcome, but for longer discussions, you can see me after school. No eating during class.

 

ESOL 0355                        Advanced Grammar WEEKLY COURSE OUTLINE

WEEK 1:                     Testing, Overview of the Verb Tenses

Units 1-2 Present and Past, Simple and Progressive

 

WEEK 2:                     Chapters 3-4 Perfect Tenses

                                                                                                Mon. 1/21/08 Martin Luther King Holiday

 

WEEK 3:                     Units 5-6 Future Progressive and Future Perfect

Adverb Clauses of Time and Tenses Review    

 

WEEK 4:                     Test #1, Units 1-6

                                    Units 18 and 20 Passive Voice

 

WEEK 5:                     Units 21-24 Conditionals

                                                           

WEEK 6:                     Conditionals Continued

                                                                                                Mon. 2/18/08 Presidents’ Day Holiday

                                                                       

WEEK 7:                     Test #2, Units 18 and 20-24

Unit 9 Gerunds and Infinitives (Homework and quiz)

 

Week 8:                       Reduction of Adverb Clauses

Review for Midterm

 

MIDTERM EXAM

 

SPRING BREAK   March 10-16

 

WEEK 9:                     Units 25-29 Noun Clauses, Indirect Speech,

Embedded Questions

 

WEEK 10:                   Test #3 Units 25-29

                                    Units 13 and 14 Adjective Clauses

 

WEEK 11                    Adjective clauses continued 

                                                Last day for withdrawal: Thurs. April 3  4:.30 p.m.

 

WEEK 12:                   Test #4 Units 13 and 14,

                                    Unit 15 Overview of Modals

 

WEEK 13:                   Unit 16-17 Past Modals                      

Unit 19 Passive Modals

 

WEEK 14:                   Test #5 Units 15-17 and 19     

 

WEEK 15:                   Nouns and Pronouns and Quiz

Review for final                        

 

WEEK 16:                   FINAL EXAM WEEK                      Final on Tuesday May 6 2008

 

Note: This is an approximate schedule; I may make minor changes to it if necessary to cover the material.