ESL 173

COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES: Welcome to our learning community! We are so pleased that you decided to join us for this new and exciting program. You are in for a treat, an adventure, a one-of-a-kind learning experience. In these two classes, we will explore our theme, Love and Heroes: Looking at Social Issues in America, through various readings and our novel Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café.

ESL 172 will help you develop academic vocabulary/reading skills through extensive reading of college level material. We will discuss pre-reading and reviewing techniques, finding the main idea, understanding the author’s message, paraphrasing and summarizing the main points, recognizing literary devices, analyzing various types of writing, and thinking critically. We will also work on vocabulary building. Because reading and writing are interrelated, class assignments and activities in both classes will also be interconnected. By connecting reading with the writing experience, you will become a stronger reader and savvier writer.

In ESL 173, we will be writing essays pertaining to the issues that you will be discussing and reading from ESL 172. This class will focus on developing the skills necessary to plan, develop, revise and edit short, well-developed academic essays. By the end of the quarter, you will be expected to: · Write unified and coherent essays developed from a main point or thesis in which you state the author’s thesis in response to an essay; use specific and concrete details to support a thesis; organize details in a pattern logically related to a thesis; and edit for gross errors in syntax, diction, punctuation, and spelling. · Read, analyze, and respond to a variety of written forms or communication in English including college level essays and readings from your reader. · Comprehend vocabulary in context and expand active vocabulary by using newly acquired vocabulary and idioms appropriately in writing.

In all the work we do this quarter, you will be encouraged to ask meaningful questions and expand your understanding of what we read by looking beyond the text and by discussing your ideas with your classmates. In these ways, you will find yourself very naturally developing your academic vocabulary and reading skills while we build a community where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas. Improving your reading and writing skills requires commitment and hard work. Our commitment to you is to provide a classroom environment where you always feel supported and challenged to do your best work.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS & MATERIALS:

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION: Your attendance, class work, and homework are important parts of the learning process. Prompt and regular attendance is required. If you are absent in the first two weeks of class and do not inform the instructor ahead of time, you may be dropped to allow another student on the wait list to be added. Students with more than 3 absences (3 tardies of more than 5 minutes equal one absence) may be dropped by the instructor or have their grade lowered. It is better to come to class late than to miss the whole class. Save your absences for emergencies. Also, if you stop coming to class, it is your responsibility to drop.

COURSE CONTENT:

Writing Assignments: All drafts of all writing assignments done outside of the classroom must be typed and double-spaced. If you do not have a computer at home, there are computers on campus available for student use. Handwritten papers will not be accepted. All assignments should include your name, course title/instructor’s name, date, and the assignment# and page#.

Student/Instructor Conferences: Each student should meet with the instructor individually during the quarter to discuss your rough drafts, your progress in the class, and any other concerns you might have regarding your reading and writing skills. You will need to bring your portfolio with you when you come to the conferences. Please make arrangements for your conference during regularly scheduled office hours or at another time that would be convenient.

ESL 173 Writing Portfolio: Students should include all rough drafts in their portfolios. Include your rough draft with the final draft stapled on top. I will subtract points for late portfolios.

Homework Policy: You are expected to complete all assigned work before the class begins. No late homework will be accepted. A grade of F or NC (no credit) will be given for each missed assignment. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get the homework assignment from another classmate. Being absent does not exempt you from turning in homework on time.

Testing Policy: In ESL 173, there will be three grammar quizzes, a midterm in-class essay exam, and a final paper/project due at the end of the quarter (more details later). In ESL 172, there will be quizzes on vocabulary and comprehension questions related to the novel or textbook often (almost every week). There will also be a midterm and final exam. If you miss a quiz or exam, you will receive a “0,” which will be calculated into your final grade. Except in unusual circumstances, in-class quizzes and exams cannot be made up.

Field Trip: We will take a field trip as a class later in the quarter. If you cannot attend the field trip, you will write an essay instead. More details to come.

Reading: You will be required to read approximately 45-55 pages from the novel Fried Green Tomatoes as well as assigned readings from The Mercury Reader every week. You may also be assigned to read other texts related to the topics we discuss in class.

Reading Assignments: You will paraphrase and summarize assigned readings and complete answers to exercises that follow each reading. You will also be expected to annotate the readings from The Mercury Reader. I will check your book for annotating each week. This will be part of your participation/assignments grade.

Presentation/Final Project: In ESL 172, you will work with a group to present, lead a discussion, and create a quiz on assigned chapters in Fried Green Tomatoes. You will also give a short presentation in ESL 173 in which you summarize and respond to an article of your choice. In addition, at the end of the quarter, you will be responsible for a final group project that will count for both ESL 172 and 173. More details to come.

Internet Discussion Board Comments: Almost every week, you will correspond with other students in the class on our Internet Discussion Board. You will type your comments about topics we discuss in class and post them on a discussion board on the Internet so that everyone in our class can read your comments and respond to them. Your discussion board comments will be part of your participation grade in both ESL 172 and 173.

ESL 172 Reading Journal: You will keep a journal in which you write one or two entries per week for a total of 10 journal entries by the end of the quarter. All journal entries must be numbered, dated, and typed. Points will be taken off if your journal entries are not neat and organized. Points will also be taken off if you do not include new vocabulary (see below). Always bring your journals to class because we may do in-class journal writing/reading and I may check your journals randomly. I will let you know when I will collect journals. Each journal entry should be 1 to 1 ½ double-spaced typed pages plus vocab. Entries will be as follows: · Entry 1: You will write a summary and response for reading selections we cover in The Mercury Reader or on another topic that we have discussed in class. I will always tell you the assigned topic. · Entry 2: When I assign it, you will write a response for chapters in the novel.

ESL 172 Vocabulary: At the end of each journal entry, write down 5 new vocabulary words from the reading. First, explain the meaning of the word with the help of a dictionary; then, make a correct sentence with it—your own sentence! Have a native speaker check your sentences! Then use at least 2 new words you learned in your next journal entries and underline them. This is a great way to expand your vocabulary!

TIME COMMITMENT: You will need to allocate a minimum of 20 hours per week (it could be as much as double) for homework for both classes. I will not tolerate students who don’t do the reading for ESL 72—after all, it is a reading class!!!!

EXTRA HELP Please come see us if you have any questions, problems, or just need a little extra help. Come see us early, before a small worry becomes a big worry! If our office hours are not convenient for you, we can meet with you at a mutually convenient time.

For extra help, we strongly encourage you to go to the Tutorial/Skills Center in L47. The Tutorial Center offers free individual, drop-in, and group tutoring. You can also sign up for a self-paced independent study course in reading, writing, vocabulary, spelling, grammar or speaking. For more info, go to L47. They are very helpful!! We also highly recommend the LSL in ATC 304. They will help you prepare for your in-class presentations.

Updated Sunday, September 25, 2005 at 10:24:13 PM by Julie Madigan - madiganjulie@fhda.edu
Login \| Logout