ESOL 0351

Level Three Writing Syllabus

Instructor: A. Elizabeth Gilfillan

Office phone: 713 718 7750

E-mail:e.gilfillan@hccs.edu

1. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

From the HCCS Catalog:

A  continuation of ESOL 0347.  This course concentrates on the development of writing skills using controlled composition and production of the five paragraph essay.

2. ESOL 0351   STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:

ESOL 0351 Advanced Intermediate Composition seeks to prepare students for continuation into ESOL o354 and ultimately for college composition courses and academic writing in general by accomplishing the following objectives:

Strengthening students’ awareness of the basic notions of paragraph development, particularly the role of the topic sentence and the internal logical development of the paragraph.

Introducing    the students to the basic principles of the multi –paragraph composition, focusing especially on the role of the introductory and concluding paragraphs, drafting an effective   thesis statement, and organizing the composition according to a clear logical pattern.

Improving  students’ sentence combination skills, especially in the area of the strategy and techniques of coordination within compound sentences and within simple complex sentences.

Increasing  student awareness of the nature of the writing process, especially in the area of effective topic construction and in the necessity and techniques of revision and editing.

3. COURSE OUTCOMES:

After taking ESOL 0351, the student should be able to:

 Use   correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation appropriate to the level.

Show control of forms for simple present, present progressive, simple past, past progressive, present perfect and future.

Write simple sentences and compound sentences using all seven of the coordinating conjunctions and conjunctive adverbs sentence connectors.

Write complex sentences with adverb clauses with a relatively high level of accuracy.

Write complex sentences with adjective and noun clauses and conditional clauses with limited accuracy.

Generate  ideas  through prewriting.

Organize and write a sophisticated paragraph with a  clear topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding

sentence  using familiar or new material.

Organize and write a moderately sophisticated five-paragraph essay of at least 200-300 words with an introductory paragraph and thesis statement, supporting paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph based on familiar or new material in various rhetorical patterns using correct essay form.

Revise a paragraph or essay whose errors have been identified.

Automatic failure on final exam: Fewer than 150 words, off topic, no thesis statement or topic sentences, or all simple sentences.

4. GRADE BREAKDOWN:

Your grade will be calculated as follows:

In class essays (4)………………………50%

Journal entries............................................ 10%

Lab/HW/CW................................................. 5%

Midterm…………………………………15%

Final……………………………………..20%

Total                                                       100%

90-100%      A

80-89%        B

70-79%        C

69%  or below IP or F

5. TEXTBOOK

You are required to buy the following textbook for this course:

Ready to Write : From Paragraph to Essay 2^nd Edition  by Karen Blanchard and Christine Root (Longman)

Longman Dictionary of American English (optional)

6. COURSE SCHEDULE

NOTE: This schedule is approximate. I may make changes to it if necessary to cover the required    material in the course. Students will write at least 6 graded compositions in class:

4 in  class compositions.  (One paragraph, one  three  paragraph and two  five paragraph essays)

1 mid-term composition (5 paragraphs)

1 final composition (5 paragraphs)

Students will also write a journal entry every day and exchange with classmate every week.

Holidays

Labor Day September 5th, 2009

Thanksgiving November 26th and 27^th 2009

Last Exam Day December 8^th 2009

CLASS POLICIES  WRITING

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: Please switch off all beepers and cell phones during the lesson. This can be very disruptive to other students. Talking can also be disruptive.  Listen carefully and ask relevant questions.

ATTENDANCE: You must come to class.  HCCS has a very strict attendance policy . If you are absent for 10 hours you may be dropped from this class. This includes the labs.  There are NO excused classes. Tell me if you know you are going to be absent.

LATENESS: You must be on time for class and lab.  If you are more than 15 minutes late, you will be marked absent for that class.

MAKEUP TESTS / LATE HOMEWORK: You will know when a test or a quiz is being given.  If you know that you will be absent for the test or quiz, please let me know before hand. If you miss a test, please come to Room 221 on Monday or Wednesday at 7.30 am.

ACADEMIC HONESTY / CHEATING: Any form of copying, cheating, or plagiarism will result in a 0 for the assignment. See the HCCS Student Handbook for further information.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: HCCS POLICIES: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychological, vision, hearing etc.) who needs reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.  For questions, contact Donna Price at 713 718 5165 or the Disability Counselor.  To visit the ADA Web site, log on to www.hccs.edu, click Future Students, scroll down the page and click on the words Disability Information.

Southwest  ADA  Counselor –Dr. Becky Hauri- 713 718

SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY: Sexual harassment in any form is not tolerated at Houston Community College.  See the HCCS Student Handbook for further information.

PROBLEMS: If you have a problem in class, please speak to me after class and I will try and help you. You may ask me for extra help during office hours. You can also e-mail me. e.gilfillan@hccs.edu

REPEATING STUDENTS:  Students who repeat a course three or more times will face significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities.  If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, talk with your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, test-taking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available. After failing a class for the second time. a student will receive an F grade for that class

WITHDRAWLS: A student may drop this course for any reason up to November 12^th 2009 at 4.30pm.  A student may also be dropped for excessive absences until that date.  After November 12^th, 2009, a student will receive the grade that he/she earned.  College policy prohibits instructors from entering a grade of “W” after the official drop date

TUTORING: is available from Tuesday to Thursday from 1.30pm-2.30pm and also Fridays from 9-11am in the Audio Lab..

Level 3 Writing

10-WEEK SUMMER COURSE SCHEDULE

NOTE: This schedule  is approximate;  I may make changes to it if required to cover the required material in the course.

Holidays July 4^th

Final exam day August 8^th.

GRADE BREAKDOWN:

Your grade will be calculated as follows:

In class paragraphs (2).............................. 20%

In class essays (2)………………………30%

Journals....................................................... 10%

Lab/HW/CW................................................. 5%

Midterm…………………………………15%

Final……………………………………..20%

Total                                                       100%

90-100%      A

80-89%        B

70-79%        C

69%  or below IP or F

CLASS POLICIES

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR: Please switch off all beepers and cell phones during the lesson. This can be very disruptive to other students. Talking can also be disruptive.  Listen carefully and ask relevant questions.

ATTENDANCE: You must come to class.  HCCS has a very strict attendance  policy . If you are absent for 8 hours you may be dropped from this class. There are NO excused classes. Tell me if you know you are going to be absent.

TARDINESS: You must be on time for class.  If the class has started, please sign in and do not interrupt other students. If you are more than 15 minutes late you will be marked absent

MAKEUP TESTS / LATE HOMEWORK: You will know when a test is being given. If you know that you will be absent, please let me know.You may take the test before the day of the test. There will be no make up tests.  If you are ill on the day of the test, please call the campus number (713 718 7750) and leave a message for me, but try to be present on test days. If you are unavoidably absent, please see me as soon as you return.

ACADEMIC HONESTY / CHEATING: Any form of copying, cheating, or plagiarism will result in a 0 for the assignment. See the HCCS Student Handbook for further information.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: HCCS POLICIES: 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, FAX 713-718-7781

SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY: Sexual harassment in any form is not tolerated at Houston Community College.  See the HCCS Student Handbook for further information.

PROBLEMS: If you have a problem in class, please speak to me after class and I will try and help you. You may ask me for extra help during office hours. You can also e-mail me. Elizabeth.gilfillan@hccs.edu

NOTICE: Students who repeat a course  three or more times may soon face significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities.  Please ask about opportunities for tutoring/other assistance prior to considering withdrawal or if you are not receiving passing grades.,