ESOL 0343 Beginning Writing Syllabus

Level 1A

Fall 2007

Instructor: Gisele Medina

E-mail:gisele.medina@hccs.edu

Office Hours: Mon-Thurs 8:00-8:30 or by appointment

Class Time: Mondays and Wednesdays 11:40-1:20

Computer Lab: Wednesday 9:20- 10:10

Room 216

1. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

A course devoted to expanding vocabulary, developing basic writing skills, and simple spelling.

2. ESOL 0343 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:

ESOL 0343, Beginning Writing, seeks to prepare students for college level academic or workforce study by accomplishing the following objectives:

• Introducing students to basic English rules of capitalization, punctuation, and paragraph format.

• Introducing students to various common sentence patterns, from simple sentences to the basics of co-ordination and subordination.

• Most importantly, building basic knowledge of paragraph organization with emphasis on developing topic sentences, support, concluding sentences and the use of basic transitions.

3. COURSE OUTCOMES:

At the end of this course, you should be able to do the following:

1. use capital letters at the beginning of sentences, correct punctuation;

2. correctly spell basic vocabulary;

3. be able to use correct verb forms for simple present and present progressive tenses and familiarity with simple past, past progressive, and simple modals;

4. correctly write simple sentences and basic compound sentences with and, but and so;

5. write basic complex sentences with when, while, before, after, and because;

6. create ideas through prewriting;

7. organize a simple paragraph of 8 – 10 sentences, which would be 80 - 125 words, with a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence;

8. revise a paragraph whose errors have been indicated

4. GRADE BREAKDOWN:

Your grade will be calculated as follows:

In-class compositions 50%

Journals 5%

Homework, Quizzes,

Dictations, Lab 10%

Midterm 15%

Final 20%

5. TEXTBOOKS:

Fundamentals of Academic Writing, Butler, Longman

This book is being piloted this semester. You do not need to buy it. I will provide you with a free copy, but you will have to return it at the end of the semester. You may write on it.

CLASS POLICIES

ATTENDANCE: Students may not be absent more than 8 hours in any class. A student who has more than 8-hour absences may be dropped from class.

TARDINESS: You must come to class on time both in the mronign and after the breaks. If you are more than 10 minutes late, you are absent. Leaving class for more than 10 minutes countsas an absence.

WITHDRAWALS:F-1 students may not withdraw from class without becoming out of status. Other students must withdraw before November 8th in order to receive a “W”. If you withdraw after that datge, you will receive a grade of IP or F.

MAKEUP TESTS /LATE HOMEWORK: If you know you will be absent, you can take the test in lab the day before the test. If you are absent from a test, you must take it the day you return to class. You must ask your teacher for the test. Turn in all homework assignments on time. If you turn in your homework one day late, you will; lose 10 points, 2 days= 20 points. After 3rd day, you will get a zero.

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

STUDENTS WITHDISABILITIES: 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 713-718-7906.

CELL PHONES AND BEEPERS: Students are not allowed to use cell phones or beepers in class. Keep your cell phones off or in silent mode. An exception will be made in emergency situations. Let me know if you need to have it on.

NOTICE: Students who repeat a course three or more times will face a significant tuition increase at HCC and other Texas colleges and universities. Please ask your instructor/counselor about opportunities for tutoring/other assistance if you are not receiving passing grades.

TUTORING/OPEN LAB: Students can get extra help after school and on Friday mornings. Tutoring by qualified ESL teachers is available by week 3 at no extra charge. Students can also use the computer and listening labs for additional practice.

CLASS SCHEDULE

FALL 2007

Week	Chapters	Topics
1	Ch. 1 Introducing Yourself	Sentences/ Paragraphs
2	Ch. 3 Introducing a Person	Subjects/ Topic Sentences
3	Ch. 3	In Class Paragraph #1
4	Ch. 2 Morning Routine	Sentence Patterns
5	Ch. 4 Saturdays	Simple Present
6	Ch. 4	In Class Paragraph #2
7	Ch. 5 What's Going On?	Supporting Sentences
8	Ch. 5	Present Progressive
9	Ch. 6 Your Hometown	Midterm Paragraph
10	Ch. 6	Prepositions/ There is
11	Ch. 7 An Important Day	Compound Sentences
12	Ch. 7	Simple Past
13	Ch. 8 Memories of a Trip	In- Class Paragraph #4
14	Ch. 9 Looking Ahead	Listing Order/ Future
15	Ch. 9	In- Class Paragraph #5
16	FINAL

Holidays: No Classes

Labor Day Monday September 3

Thanksgiving Thursday November 22

Important Dates:

Last Day of Classes: Thursday December 6 Week 15

Writing Final: Monday December 10 Week 16