ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTITUTE

UNIVERSITY PREPARATION PROGRAM

WRITTEN EXPRESSION 3A

Winter, 2004

 

Text Box: INSTRUCTOR Chris Hall Instructor Contact E-mail – chall@bcc.ctc.edu, Office Phone – 425 564 2254 Office Hours 9:30-10:30 M-F D 207J (appointments advised)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLASS TIME                M-F, 12:30-2:30

                       

TEXTS                          Understanding and Using English Grammar 3E, Vol. A

                                    Blueprints 1 – Composition Skills for Academic Writing

 

MATERIALS                 White, 8 ½” x 11” lined paper

An English/English Dictionary (Longman Dictionary of American English recommended)

A 24-page bluebook

A pocket-sized notebook for vocabulary and spelling

A plastic or heavy cardboard 3-holed folder with pockets

 

 

Text Box: COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OUTCOMES This course is aimed at preparing students for success in academic writing. The instruction will focus primarily on writing well-organized, interesting, coherent paragraphs and on paraphrasing, summarizing and synthesizing information from a reading. Assignments will include a variety of writing tasks both formal and informal. Additionally, we will be working on your mastery of basic punctuation, spelling, capitalization, grammar and English sentence structure. By the end of this course, you should be able to identify and use the following: • Basic verb tenses and modals (present, past, future, present-perfect and past perfect) • The parts of speech • Passive voice • Reflexive pronoun forms • Simple, compound and complex sentences • Sentence Faults (run-ons, comma splices, fragments, etc.) By the end of this course, you should be able to use the following to compose a strong piece of writing: • Pre-writing strategies • Organizational skills • Content development • Revising and editing • Self-evaluation

 

GRADING

You will receive points for each activity you do in this class.  You must have a total average of 75% or higher AND pass your final timed writing exam to receive a passing grade and move to the next level.

  • Take Home Writing Assignments (4-5)                             50 points each
  • In Class Timed Writings  (4-5)                                          50 points each
  • Grammar, Structure and Mechanics Exams (4-5)              50 points each
  • Quizzes                                                                        10-25 points each
  • Homework                                                                      10-25 points each
  • Participation, attendance and free-writing                   3 points daily                                                                      

Grading Scale

A = 93-100

B = 84-92

C = 75-83

*D = 0-74 (repeat level; good effort)

*F  = 0-74 (repeat level; unsatisfactory effort)

 

PLEASE NOTE:

*Students with 12 or more absences will receive an “F” and may be terminated from the program.  Students with 10 or 11 absences will receive a “D” and will have to repeat the level. Three tardies of 5 or more minutes to class equal one absence.

 

Assignments lose 10% of their value per day late.  No work will be accepted more than two days after the due date.  All assignments are due AT THE BEGINNING of the class period.  All assignments must be in hard copy form.  No floppy disks are accepted.

 

Recommendations for students will be written only for those receiving a final grade of “B” or higher.  A 3-day notice is necessary.

                       

CALENDAR

·         TOEFL                    2/21     

·         No classes              1/19, 2/16

·         Final Exam              TBA

 

 

IT IS IMPORTANT TO DO THE FOLLOWING:

1.     Be on time to class. 

2.     Come to class everyday.  Contact me or a classmate to find out your assignments if you must be absent.

3.     Bring your own materials with you daily.

4.     Have your work done on time.  Do it yourself.  Be very careful not to plagiarize. Cheating/plagiarism will result in a “0” for the assignment or test.  Repeated cheating/plagiarism will result in class failure.

5.     Speak English in the classroom.

6.     See or e-mail me when you’re unsure about a lesson or an assignment.

7.     Be respectful of differences in learning and teaching styles.

8.     Don’t eat during class.

9.     Keep your cell phones turned off during class time. (-3 points if you forget)

10. Keep all homework, quizzes and tests neatly organized in a notebook.

11. Take pride in your work.  Make sure it is neat and easy to read.

12. Focus on the positive.

13. Participate fully!!!!!

14. Read teacher feedback and respond appropriately.

15. Keep a list of new vocabulary, expressions, consistent grammar errors and misspelled words in your pocket notebook.  Review it regularly.

 

Text Box: If you require accommodation based on a documented disability, have emergency medical information to share or need special arrangement in the case of emergency evacuation, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.