ABE 2/3 English Syllabus #7631 / 7638

Winter 2011

January 10th – March 23rd  No classes 1/17, 1/28, 2/21

Instructor: Tonya Estes                                     Office Location: R 130W

E-mail: tonya.estes@bellevuecollege.edu      Office Hours:  T/Th 10:30-12:30

Phone: (425) 564-2065                                               M  1:00-2:00     by appointment   

 

Books and Materials Required

 

The textbooks will be available in the Bellevue College Bookstore, located in the B Building. For less expensive texts, I recommend going to an on-line retailer such as www.amazon.com. There are a few copies in our library that you can check out for 3 weeks at a time.

 

First Steps in Academic Writing, 2nd Edition, by Ann Hogue. Pearson ESL ISBN-10: 0132414880

The Story of Harriet Tubman, Conductor of the Underground Railroad, by Kate McMullan. Random House ISBN: 0-440-40400-2

 

Each student should come to class with a 3-ring binder, plenty of lined paper, pencil, pen, and eraser.  You may also want a dictionary or other reference books.

 

 

Course Outcomes

 

Students in this mulit-level course will improve their ability to read with understanding according to Washington State Reading Standards. To do so, students will focus on determining the reading purpose, selecting reading strategies appropriate to the purpose, monitoring comprehension and adjusting reading strategies, analyzing information and reflecting on its underlying meaning, and integrating it with prior knowledge to address the reading purpose.

 

Students will also improve their ability to convey ideas in writing according to Washington State Standards.  To do so, students will focus on determining the pupose for communicating, organizing and presenting information to serve the purpose, paying attention to conventions of English language usage, including grammar, spelling, and sentence structure, to minimize barriers to reader’s comprehension, and seeking feedback and revising to enhance the effectiveness of the communication.

 

 

How Outcomes will be met

 

Throughout the quarter, you will read a variety of kinds of writing and write sentences, paragraphs, summaries, and responses.  You will build your vocabulary and English grammar ability . You will have many opportunities to work in small groups and to gain an understanding of the college campus culture and resources.

Grading

 

Students attending ABE classes as BC are expected to make significant and sustained academic progress for their program and level.  If academic progress, as defined in program policy, is not met, students may not continue in the program.  Academic progress is determined by the teachers based on classroom work, tests, demonstration of competence on performance tasks, and attendance.  Students will be informed at mid-quarter of the current quarter if they need to improve their performance and make a plan for success.

 

Students receive oral and written feedback on written work, participation in discussion, and other activities.  The purpose of the feedback is to allow students to build on their strengths and focus their studies on the areas they are weakest in. 

 

The ABE/GED department requires students to take the CASAS reading and math assessments.  Each student takes the assessment before placement into a course and a post-test at some point after 45 hours of instruction.  The purpose of these assessments is to make sure students are improving their reading and math skills to strengthen their employability and other life skills.

 

Instructor’s Expectation

 

If you are sick, please do not come to class.  If you have a fever, wait until your fever has been gone for 24 hours before returning to class.   Contact your instructor to keep up with classwork, if you are able. 

 

We are participating in a group learning classroom.  We are all different, so we need to be respectful of our differences and supportive of all of our desires to learn. 

 

It is necessary that each student receives equal time and ability to ask questions, provide answers, and participate in activities.  If you find that you have many questions, please come to my office hours for additional help. 

 

Cheating and copying (plagiarism) are serious offenses.  Expect to have a one-on-one conversation with me the first time.  And then, the second time, you will be referred to the Vice President of Student Services for possible probation or suspension from Bellevue College. 

 

I expect you to be ready to study at the beginning of class.  I expect you to use breaks wisely and return to class at the set time.  I expect you to turn off all electronic devices before class begins.  I expect you to come to class with homework completed to the best of your ability.  I expect you to come to class with the food, water, and rest necessary to stay focused. 

 

I expect myself, your instructor, to also follow these rules for conduct.

 

 

Division Statements

 

See the Arts and Humanities website for all division policies. http://bellevuecollege.edu/artshum/

 

 

Disability Resource Center (DRC)

 

The Disability Resource Center serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you are a student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen someone for treatment and if you feel you may need accommodations in order to be successful in college, please contact us as soon as possible. If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc, please meet with your individual instructors to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter. The DRC office is located in B 132 or you can call our reception desk at 425.564.2498.  Deaf students can reach us by video phone at 425-440-2025 or by TTY at 425-564-4110.   .    .  Please visit our website for application information into our program and other helpful links at www.bellevuecollege.edu/drc

 

 

We do not wish other people (parents, spouses, and friends of students) to speak for students about school performance because this can slow student growth and progress. We do this because we would like students to speak for themselves and be independent.  We also do it because federal law (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) says that we must protect the privacy of student education records.  It is BC policy to keep school performance between the school and the student. If a student asks for a parent, spouse, or friend to be at any instructor-student discussion of academic performance, instructors will look at each situation and make the final decision. You can see all of this policy, Arts and Humanities Commitment to Student Growth and Development, at www.bellevuecollege.edu/artshum.

 

 

 

Course Calendar – You can write homework and test dates here.

1/10

1/12

1/14

1/17

1/19

1/21

 

 

 

MLK Day

No Class

 

 

 

1/24

1/26

1/28

1/31

2/2

2/4

 

 

 

No Class

 

 

 

 

2/7

2/9

2/11

2/14

2/16

2/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2/21

2/23

2/25

2/28

3/2

3/4

 

No class

 

 

 

 

 

 

3/7

3/9

3/11

3/14

3/16

3/18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conference

Day & Time