Low Advanced Core Class (ELI 035-001)
Fall 2012
Instructor: Jane Kirsch
Email: jkirsch@gmu.edu
Desk phone: 703-993-9369
Office Hours: TR 11-3, or by appointment, email, or luck
Office: Northern Neck Building (near Starbucks, room 130)
Class Schedule and Location:
Robinson B, Room 204
Mon/Wed/Fri: 10:30-12:20
Tues/Thurs: 8:50-10:20
Class Website: www.kirsches.org
Course Description
“It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.”
The GOAL of the course is to improve your academic skills in American English (target CEFR level=B2)
By the end of the semester you should be able to:
(BOLD items are skills which will be assessed frequently)
Reading:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Writing:
Read with more independence and increase reading vocabulary. Can
adapt methods/ style/speed of reading for different types of reading.
Quickly understand the main idea and importance of current events
articles, news, and reports on familiar topics.
Understand articles, reports, and reviews in which the writers express
specific points of view
Read to understand short stories/novel written in a direct
style/language.
Can accurately guess basic meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary by
using the context.
Can accurately guess meaning from less direct reading (draw
inferences).
Increase reading speed to 5 minutes per page.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Write clear summaries about a variety of readings, making note of
different points of views and main ideas/themes, and making use of
narratives and descriptions.
Respond with own point of view (academic opinion) about a variety of
readings, making note of different points of views and main ideas/ themes.
Write at length about familiar subjects.
Can self-correct many errors in the writing process.
Write an essay giving reasons in support or against an idea while
explaining the advantages / disadvantages.
Write clear, detailed descriptions on a variety of familiar topics.
Write with good organization for a variety of academic writing needs.
Listening:
Speaking:
1.
1.
2.
With some effort, can understand much of what is expressed in class
discussions on unfamiliar topics.
Fully understand the main points of what is expressed in class
discussions on familiar topics.
2.
3.
Research Skills:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Demonstrate success at entry
level research skills with online
library searches and with online
search browsers
Successfully develop key search
terms, collect certain data, and
have some success using online
search tools to find good sources
for a your research topic.
Include original sources
(summarized and paraphrased) in
written essays or summaries.
Produce an accurate References
list according to a basic APA
format.
Demonstrate a complete
understanding of plagiarism and
its consequences.
Vocabulary Accuracy:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Can narrate and
describe with detail
in all major time
frames (tenses)
Expressions of
agreement and
disagreement
Prefixes, suffixes,
roots
Reporting verbs
such as say, tell, ask,
report, advise,
promise
Give clear and detailed descriptions on a wide range of subjects (oral
reports, point of view statements, debates).
Summarize main points from texts, reports, articles, and other academic
sources (oral summaries).
Sustain lengthy and complex conversations on topics related to readings,
lectures, or points of view.
Grammar Accuracy:
1.
Simple sentences
a.
Word order in sentences with more than one subordinate clause
b. Use of common conjunctions expressing contrast, purpose,
consequence, condition, concession
c.
Defining relative clauses with where, when
d. Participial clauses describing action with –ing
2. Complex sentences--Clauses
3. Verb forms
a.
Perfect tenses
b. Verbs + (object) __ gerund or infinitive such as would like
someone to do something + suggest doing something
c.
Phrasal verbs such as give up, hold out
4. Nouns
a.
Noun phrases
b. Word order
5. Articles:
a.
Definite, indefinite and zero article with countable & noncountable nouns in range of uses (a, an, the, Zero Article)
6. Adverbs: Comparative and superlative of adverbs (Hard, Harder,
Hardest)
7. Intensifiers: For example: such as, extremely, much, too
8. Punctuation
a.
Multiple uses of commas
b. Use of apostrophes for possession and omission
9. Spelling: Correct spelling of words used in work and studies
10. Transition words: addition, cause and effect, contrast (however),
sequence and time (at a later date)
Texts & Supplies
“There is a great deal of difference between an eager man who wants to read a book and a tired man who needs a book to read.”
Writing Text: Focus On Writing 3
By Colin Ward, Pearson Publishers
Reading Text: Active Skills for Reading 4
By Neil J. Anderson, Thomson-Heinle Publishers
New York Times Upfront Magazine: $6 cash to
Jane/ELI for a semester subscription. This is a
one-time payment.
Supplies: Loose leaf notebook paper (NOT torn out from a
spiral notebook), highlighters, pencil, pen, eraser,
binder/folder, USB flash drive + a  and a sense of humor
Grading Policy
“It is more important to know where you are going than to get there quickly. Do not mistake activity for achievement.”
Grading in this class is based on a TOTAL POINTS SYSTEM
Each assignment is worth 50-500 points. Essays & assessments are worth significantly MORE points than HW or in-class work, but
all assignments are important and have point value.
For Example: If you have earned 420 points out of 500 for an assignment, you could calculate your grade this way:
420/500
420  500= .84
.84 x 100 = 84%
Your grade is 84% or a B
A=90-100, B=80-89, C=70-79, NG=0-69
Final Course Grades: A=90-100, B=80-89, C=70-79, NG=0-69/more than the 10 allowed absences
Final exams are the last week of classes and held during the regular class period. Schedule: Monday for
electives, Tuesday for OCS, and Wednesday, Dec. 5 for Core. EARLY final exams will NOT be permitted.
Homework: Homework is given to prepare you for the next class or to practice skills learned in class. Daily
HW is not graded for being turned in or not but IS essential to your success in learning and your ability to
demonstrate skills. HW is usually part of class activities and partner work. HW which is collected will be
graded as an assessment of your skills. Late work will NOT be accepted.
Quizzes: There will be several pop (unannounced) in-class quizzes. No make-up quizzes. The quizzes will:
1. Test that you've done the required HW reading and achieved a basic understanding of it,
2. Demonstrate your integrated skills, and
3. Demonstrate your grammatical accuracy.
Class Policies
1. Attend class regularly and on time: To maintain Visa status, you may not miss more than 10 classes. If you miss more
than 10 class sessions, you will receive NO GRADE (NG). However, this IS NOT permission to miss 10 classes.
Participation and Attendance: You will not do well in this class if you are often absent or late. You will be doing many things in this
class which often build upon what has been taught and what will be taught. Therefore, it is extremely important that each student
come to class each day and fully participate in discussions and activities. If you are late to class (more than 10 minutes), this will
count as a half absence (0.5). If you have 10 or more absences, you will receive a grade of NG for the class. You are responsible for
finding out what work has been assigned in your absence. I will not re-teach to you when you are absent or late. For serious
circumstances such as severe illness, contact me. Missed in-class work/assessments CANNOT be made-up.
2. Contact ME (Jane Kirsch), a classmate, and/or see the class website: www.kirsches.org when you miss
class; you are responsible for completing assignments ON TIME even when you are sick or absent .
3. Students are expected to speak only English during class time.
4. No cell phones on in class. Don’t text, check your email, or take a call during class time. It’s very rude.
5. During tests or exams, all cell phone devices must be turned off, off your desk, and no laptops permitted.
6. Recommendation Letters must be EARNED with regular attendance, evidence of learning and progress,
good grades, and no evidence of plagiarism. If this hasn’t happened, then no letter will be written.
 If you do ask for a recommendation letter, please email or give me the following info: name of

university, dept. of study, person or dept. to whom the letter should be addressed, and the
recommendation form from that university. If you do not have this information and do not know where
to find it, then you are not ready.
Please allow at least 10 days notice for a letter. Letters will only be written AFTER Mid-term.
PLAGIARISM
“The only real failure in life is the failure to try.”
1. Plagiarism is cheating. It is using another person’s work {even if you don’t know the person} and
claiming it to be yours, or getting unapproved help. This is dangerous in academics.
2. NEVER copy/use information from the Internet or anywhere else without documenting the source and
giving credit to the original author/speaker. If YOU can find it online, then I CAN TOO. Do not use
writing borrowed from family, friends, or other classmates...this is also cheating. Do not have someone
“help” you with your writing.
3. Since this class emphasizes the development of your academic reading & writing skills, you are
encouraged to consult other sources. If you look at such work, however, you must cite, using a standard
APA citation format, all sources that your own writing includes, either directly (quotes) or indirectly
(paraphrases/summaries). Such sources include (but are not limited to) the texts we're reading, the
Internet, newspapers, magazines, or video/media resources.
4. I will take all suspected cases of plagiarism to the ELI Director. Any assignments which include
plagiarized materials will receive a 0/No Grade, no exceptions.
5. Finally, everyone loses when you plagiarize. You get a zero for that assignment or maybe even the
course, you lose the chance to learn and grow in your skills, and finally, I LOSE ALL RESPECT for
someone who cheats.
George Mason University Honor Code
“Student members of the George Mason University community pledge not to cheat, plagiarize, steal, or lie
in matters related to academic work.” http://academicintegrity.gmu.edu/honorcode/
Questions? Just ask!
Jane’s advice: Get organized, be prepared, be on time, ask questions, feel free to make
mistakes, speak up in class, use English daily, get to know teachers and classmates, and take
time for yourself. 
Classmates I can contact:
Name: ____________________
Email or phone: ___________________________
Name: ____________________
Email or phone: ___________________________
Low Advanced Core Contract
Kirsch/Fall 2012
Please initial each item
and sign the bottom
1. _______I have read and FULLY understand the information provided to me in this document: Kirsch
Low Advanced Core Syllabus (ELI 035-001) for Fall 2012.
2. _______I will not cheat.
3. _______I understand the ELI Attendance Policy: I cannot miss more than 10 classes and that more than
10 minutes late or out of the class = ½ absence.
4. _______I understand that late work will not be accepted, so I will not ask if I can turn something in late.
5. _______I understand that if I miss an exam or assessment, it can’t be made up and my score will be a
“0” or NG (No Grade).
6. _______I understand that I cannot check email, text, take/make a call, or use my cell phone in class
unless instructed to do so.
7. ______ I know that I can ask Jane Kirsch at any time for help; I know how to contact her.
8. ______I understand that homework (HW) is important and will negatively affect my grade and progress
if I do not complete it as directed.
Student’s PRINTED Name
_________________________________________________
Student Signs Here
________________________________ Date ____________