SOUTHERN MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ESOL 095: Advanced ESOL Writing
Summer 2014
Instructor:
Anna Medina
Email: Amedina@smccme.edu
Meeting time: Mon. & Wed. 5:00-6:45
Phone: 741-5695
Meeting place: Hague 107
Office: 202-C Campus Center
Office hours/availability: By appointment, Mon. – Fri. between 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Course Overview
Course Description:
This course for advanced non-native speakers of English will address skills needed for
English Composition (ENGL-100). It will help students gain the tools to write the
academic papers required in most college classes. It will focus on common grammatical
and punctuation errors, sentence structure and academic vocabulary. Students will
learn to write clear and well-organized paragraphs and essays using the steps of the
writing process, with a heavy focus on planning, revision and editing.
Text: Folse, Keith S., April Muchmore-Vokoun, and Elena Vestri Solomon. Great Writing
4: Great Essays. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2014. Print.
Other Materials:
Three-ring binder and 5 dividers
Notebook or loose leaf paper
Course Objectives:
By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Use the writing process to plan, write, draft, revise and edit paragraphs and
essays in various academic formats (e.g. narrative, comparison/contrast,
persuasive).
Use simple, compound, and complex sentences correctly, recognize fragments
and run-on errors, and edit own work for these.
Identify common suffixes for adjectives, verbs and nouns, and identify sentence
clues for usage of these forms.
Paraphrase sentences from a variety of textbook sources.
5.
6.
Use advanced grammar forms correctly in writing, including adjective clauses,
transition words, complex sentences with adverb clauses, indirect reported
speech, direct quoted speech
Recognize and demonstrate appropriate college behaviors such as asking
appropriate questions, keeping a record of assignments, completing homework
thoughtfully, preparing for exams, and seeking help from learning center and
instructor as needed. Students will identify own learning needs.
Coursework Requirements:
1. Regular class attendance and punctuality (see policy below)
2. Completion of approximately two hours of essential practice homework for each class.
(4-5 hours per week)
3. Participation in all group and individual class activities
4. Tutoring work in the Learning Commons (at least three sessions within the semester)
Writing Center Hours: http://smccme.libguides.com/writingcenter
 Mon. 10:00-2:00
 Tues. 11:00-3:00
 Wed. 11:00-3:00
5. Successful completion of 3-5 grammar and sentence structure tests
6. Completion of 3-4 academic essays (250+ words each) INCLUDING brainstorming and
planning activities, drafting, revision, peer editing, and self-editing
Narrative
Persuasion/Argument
Comparison/Contrast
Grades:
Attendance / Participation: 10%
Homework: 20%
Essays: 40%
Tests and Quizzes: 25%
Tutoring: 5%
Cause/Effect
Summary
Classroom Policies
Attendance Policy:
The SMCC College Catalog states: after three or more absences from regular class meetings
without communicating with the instructor, the instructor must report the absences to
Enrollment Services and assign the student a grade of “AF” (Administrative Failure).
Attendance is a necessary part of any language-focused course. All students are allowed 1
excused absence. Each additional absence will result in one-point deduction from final grade
for each absence. A student who misses 5 or more classes is at risk for automatic failure for the
course.
Tardiness:
Tardiness will not be tolerated. If you are not in the classroom when attendance is taken, you
will be marked as absent.
Late Work Policy:
Work is expected on time. Homework assignments cannot be made up or submitted late. Each
student is allowed one free late pass for one paper. The late pass is good for one week. A grade
of “0” (zero) will be given for all other assignments not handed in by the due date.
Self-Evaluation / Participation
At the end of every class, students are required to complete a self-evaluation for participation.
Students will rank themselves on a 1 - 4 scale.
1 = was present, did not speak, took poor/no notes
2 = was present, did not speak, took good notes
3 = was present, spoke once, took good notes
4 = was present, spoke more than once, took good notes
Any use of electronics of any sort during class = 0 for the day.
The instructor reserves the right to change an inaccurate self-evaluation grade.
College Policies
End-of-Course Evaluation:
In order to gain access to final course grades, students must complete evaluations for each
course attended at SMCC. Evaluations are submitted online and can be accessed through the
student portal site. Students can access the course evaluation report beginning two weeks
before the end of classes. The deadline for submission of evaluations occurs 24 hours after the
last day of classes each semester. Instructors will announce when the online course evaluation
is available.
ADA Syllabus Statement:
Southern Maine Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and
employer. For more information, please call 207-741-5798.
If you have a disabling condition and wish to request accommodations in order to have
reasonable access to the programs and services offered by SMCC, you must register with the
disability services coordinator, Sandra Lynham, who can be reached at 741-5629. There will be
some documentation for your teachers that must be supplied before accommodations can be
given. Further information about services for students with disabilities and the accommodation
process is available upon request at this number.
SMCC Pay-for-Print Policy:
Students can print 150 pages per semester for free. If you print over 150 pages, you will be
charged 10 cents per page to your Beacon Bucks account. Left-over pages will roll over to the
following semester but will zero out at the end of the academic year. A pilot project tracking
public printing has shown that this amount of free printing meets the needs of the vast majority
of students. The College’s pay-for-print system monitors printing on all public printers (i.e.,
those in general access labs, library printers, the AAC, and technology labs). Each time you log
in to the system, the print station displays the remaining print quota. Once the printing quota
has been exceeded, users will be charged $0.10 per page on their Beacon Bucks accounts. Color
printouts will be charged at 11-page units. This means each color printout will count as 11
pages toward the quota and cost $1.10. Students can add money to their cards using a credit
card online.
Add-Drop Policy:
If a student decides not to take a class, and wants to receive a 100% refund on tuition and fees
for that course, he/she must “drop” the course during “add/drop” period of the semester
(FALL/SPRING= only the first week of classes; SUMMER= the first three days of this session)
Please note any course that meets for less than the traditional semester length, i.e., 15 weeks,
has a shorter add/drop period.
NOTE: Not attending a class is NOT the same as dropping a class. Students may drop classes at
the Office of Student Success in the Campus Center or online in My Maine Guide<<<My
Degree<<<My Courses. (Please see information below about stopping a class after the
add/drop period)
Withdrawal Policy:
Students do not receive a refund when they withdraw from a class.
A student may withdraw from a course only during the semester for which he/she is registered
for that class.
A student may withdraw from a course only within the following periods: FALL and SPRING
semesters- weeks two through twelve of classes; SUMMER- weeks two through nine of classes.
(This period is shorter because the course length is shorter).
To withdraw from a course, a student must complete and submit the appropriate course
withdrawal form. Students can find this form at the Office of Student Success (no phone calls,
please). Instructors cannot withdraw students from classes.
The letter “W” (in the place of a grade) will appear on the transcript after a student has
officially withdrawn. NOTE: A course withdrawal is an uncompleted course and can negatively
affect financial aid eligibility; however, a “W” grade does not negatively affect a student's GPA.
Students should speak to an advisor and the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing from a
course. Not attending or stopping to attend a class is not the same as withdrawal from the
course.
Plagiarism Statement:
Adherence to ethical academic standards is obligatory. Cheating is a serious offense, whether it
consists of taking credit for work done by another person or doing work for which another
person will receive credit. Taking and using the ideas or writings of another person without
clearly and fully crediting the source is plagiarism and violates the academic code as well as the
Student Code of Conduct. If it is suspected that a student in any course in which s/he is enrolled
has knowingly committed such a violation, the faculty member should refer the matter to the
College’s Disciplinary Officer and appropriate action will be taken under the Student Code of
Conduct. Sanctions may include suspension from the course and a failing grade in the course.
Students have the right to appeal these actions to the Disciplinary Committee under the terms
outlined in the Student Code of Conduct.
SCHEDULE
Exploring the Essay
Wed. 5/28- Introductions, Syllabus Overview, Parts of an Essay
Mon. 6/2-Syllabus quiz, 3 Step Short Story
Wed. 6/4- Grammar review
Narrative Essay
Mon. 6/9- Narrative Construction, Prewrite, Adjective Clauses
Wed. 6/11-Grammar Quiz #1, Outline
Mon. 6/16-First Draft of Narrative Due
Wed. 6/18-Indirect/Reported Speech
Comparison Essay
Mon. 6/23-Final Narrative Due, Comparison Organization, Prewrite
Wed. 6/25- Introduction due, Grammar Quiz #2, Outline
Mon. 6/30-First Draft Comparison Due,
Wed. 7/2- Adverb Clauses & Transitions
Summarizing & Paraphrasing
Mon. 7/7-Final Comparison Due
Wed. 7/9- Grammar Quiz #3
Argument Essays
Mon. 7/14- Defining and dissecting argument essays
Wed. 7/16-Supporting arguments/Prewrite & begin introduction
Mon. 7/21- Introduction due, Locating and evaluating information, Library Session
Wed. 7/23- Grammar Quiz #4, Outline
Mon. 7/28-First Draft Argument Due
Wed. 7/30-Writing Workshop
Mon. 8/4-Final Argument Due, Grammar Review
Wed. 8/6-Final Grammar Exam
Mon.8/11-In-class essay
Wed. 8/13-In-class essay due