Course Outline Level 490A
Instructor: Gerry Luton
gluton@uvic.ca
Philosophy
The ESL program at the University of Victoria is a communicative program. In the academic stream the emphasis
will be on improving your academic skills in order to prepare you for regular university courses in English. Much of
our class work and homework will focus on these goals. Because vocabulary is so important to communication, we
will work intensively on increasing your vocabulary.
Evaluation
Your progress is evaluated in class by your instructors on a daily basis. In addition, all homework is marked and the
result is recorded. Quizzes/ tests are given throughout the session, with formal testing at midterm and at the end of the
program. To pass into level 570, you must obtain a final grade of at least 80%. The final mark is calculated as follows:
Assignments: 50%
Listening
You will have regular listening lab assignments. These will be used to calculate 15 marks towards
your final assignment mark.
Vocabulary
We will be studying approximately 15-25 new vocabulary items each week. Homework
for this vocabulary will consist of writing your own sentences using the vocabulary. You
will receive 15 marks towards your assignment total from these assignments.
Speaking
You will be assessed on your speaking ability in class on an ongoing basis. This assessment will
count for 10 marks towards your final assignment mark.
Writing
You will be doing a number of assignments designed to improve your writing ability in English,
specifically, the ability to write a proper paragraph and the beginnings of a proper essay. These
written assignments will count for 25 marks towards your final assignment mark.
Grammar
You will have regular grammar assignments, including error analysis assignments.
Vocabulary homework will also be evaluated for grammar. Grammar evaluation will count for 15
marks towards your assignment total.
Projects &
Presentations
The class do a major project in which each student will be required to give presentations to students
of other classes. This project will count for 10 marks towards your final assignment mark.
Class Tests: 35%
Vocabulary
You will have two major vocabulary tests during the session; one at midterm and one at the end of
the program. These two tests will count for 35 marks towards your test total.
Grammar
You may have grammar quizzes at various times throughout the session. You will also receive a
grammar mark on your vocabulary test. These quizzes will count for 20 marks towards your total.
Speaking
You will have a formal in-class speaking assessment at midterm which will count for 10 marks
towards your test total.
Listening
You will have a class listening test at midterm which will count for a total of 15 marks
towards your test total.
Note: The marks breakdown may change based on the number and type
of assignments and tests we are able to complete during the session.
Participation: 15%
Your participation mark will be determined based on the following:
 Attendance
Were you in class every day?
Were you on time?
 Homework
Did you do all your homework assignments?
Did you hand in your homework on time?
 Effort
Did you work hard or did you just do the minimum?
Did you correct your mistakes in your written work?
Did you stay on task during work in class?
 Participation
Did you participate in discussions & activities?
Did you ask questions in class?
Did you listen attentively to others?
 Attitude
Did you help make the class a positive learning environment?
 Presentations/Projects
Did you put sufficient effort into your presentations & projects?
/02
/01
/03
/01
/02
/03
/02
/03
/01
/01
/01
/03
Standardized Tests: 20%
In week 11 of the program, all the 490A classes will take standardized writing, reading and listening exams. The
results of these tests will account for 5% for each test, or a combined total of 15% of your final mark. You will also
take a final speaking test. For the speaking test, you will be tested by two instructors, one of whom is your regular
classroom teacher. This test is worth an additional 5%, for a total of 20% for standardized tests.
Elective(s): 10%
You will choose one or two elective classes according to your own interests and needs. You will be evaluated by the
instructor(s) of the elective(s) and will receive a mark worth 10% towards your final grade.
Textbooks
Required Text: Our writing text for 490A is Introduction to Academic Writing, 3rd edition, by Alice Oshima & Ann
Hogue.
Optional Text: An excellent dictionary for English language learners is the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary
English or the Collins Co-build Learner's Dictionary.