ESL 21A English Fundamentals I
Room ESL 105, MTWTh, 10:15-12:20pm and 12:30-2:35pm
Winter 2012, January 3 – February 9
Sections #:
Instructor:
E-Mail:
1181 and 1183
Professor Andrea Spector
spector_andrea@smc.edu
Description: Winter ESL 21A is an intensive six-week high intermediate communicative writing course for nonnative speakers of English. ESL 21A is the first part of the 21A/B sequence. *ESL 11B, 21A, 21B, and 25
combined: maximum credit 8 units.
Prerequisite: Passing Grade (“C” or higher) in ESL 11B or an appropriate score on the SMC ESL Placement
Examination.
Required Materials:
-Q: Skills for Success 5 Reading and Writing, Snow, Zwier, and Zimmerman
-The Little Seagull Handbook, Bullock and Weinberg
-Stapler
-College-ruled paper and a binder or spiral notebooks for journals and note-taking
-4 Large Blue Books (available from the SMC Bookstore)
-Access to a computer to use eCompanion, materials on the internet, and e-mail
-Various handouts (to be provided by the instructor or to be downloaded and printed out from eCompanion)
Highly Recommended***:
An English-English dictionary with usage examples (i.e. Longman Dictionary of American English)
***You will not be allowed to share dictionaries during in-class essays.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of the course students will be able to:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
Construct and revise a variety of sentence types within paragraphs
Plan, compose, and revise multi-paragraph essays (with thesis statements, supporting body paragraphs,
transitional sentences, and conclusion).
Respond to questions with paragraphs or essays under time constraints
Paraphrase and summarize information from lectures and readings
Demonstrate use of appropriate academic vocabulary in paragraphs and essays
Write short and extended definitions
Use skimming and scanning to locate main ideas and specific details in readings
Evaluate the use of cohesive markers
Distinguish word forms and their functions in a sentence
Use the following in speaking/writing: verb tense and aspect (active and passive voice); clauses (noun, adjective,
adverb); modals in passive and reported speech; real and unreal conditionals; use the article system in first and
second mention
Discuss information from readings and audio/visual tapes in small groups to collect and organize ideas for writing
Express and support opinions and prepare, organize, and present or exchange information orally
Methods of Presentation:
Lecture, Class discussion, Pair work, Small group work, Computer-assisted instruction using the web, Multimedia
Methods of Evaluation:
Homework/Online Assignments
7%
Summaries/Paragraphs
8%
Quizzes
10%
Essays
40%
Essay Revisions
6%
Journals
8%
Annotations
5%
Final
16%
Course Grading
Your grades for quizzes, exams, and final grade will be based on the following percentages:
A – 90-100%. Excellent. The quality of work goes above and beyond
expectations. You do much more than is expected of you. (ESL 21 B or possibly higher
recommended)
B – 80-89%. Above average. The quality of work is above what is expected.
(ESL 21B recommended)
C – 70-79%. Average. The quality of work is what is expected of the average student. In other
words, you are doing EXACTLY what is required of you – no more, no less. (ESL 21B
recommended)
D – 60-69%. Below average. The quality of work is substandard. (Repeat of
ESL 21A recommended)
F – ≤ 59%.
Failing. The quality of work does not meet the criteria to
pass the course. (ESL 11A/B level recommended)
Final course grades of A, B, or C qualify students for ESL 21B.
Note: ESL 21A may be taken for credit/no credit. This decision, however, must be made at an early point in the
semester. See your counselor for further credit/transfer guidance.
Student Learning Outcomes for ESL 21A
1.
2.
3.
Given a prompt and under time constraints, plan, outline, compose, and revise essays. The essays
employ a variety of sentence types, appropriate vocabulary, and accurate grammar and use
paraphrased and summarized information from outside sources that are documented.
As assessed by: a writing task in which a student is given a prompt and, within one class
session (1 hour 20 minutes), plans, briefly outlines, composes, and revises an essay referring
to a reading previously assigned as homework. The essay is scored with a rubric for content,
organization, and language.
Identify main ideas and specific details in texts that explore contemporary issues in the areas of
economics, politics, ecology, and culture, and determine appropriateness for use in writing.
As assessed by: student annotation of authentic discourse (textbooks) for main ideas and specific
details that can be used to help explain and support a thesis in a subsequent essay.
Analyze and compare at least two interconnected systems (e.g., cultural, economic, political, and/or
social) outside the US and discuss their global consequences.
As assessed by: an essay employing analysis, comparison, and cause-effect rhetorical structures
scored with a rubric.
Homework
Homework is assigned for every class. (Check syllabus, e-companion, and chalk board in classroom.)
Students must complete the homework to succeed in the class. Classroom activities depend on completion of
the assignments. Absolutely no homework will be accepted by e-mail. If you are absent, do not ask me for
the homework – contact another student instead. It is your responsibility to find out and do the
homework.
Attendance: Since it is impossible to know what we are doing in class if you are not here, you are expected to
attend all class sessions. Test and quiz questions will be designed to acknowledge your attendance and
participation. Students who arrive late for class or leave early consistently may be dropped. Any student who
arrives more than 10 minutes late will be marked as having 1 tardy (3 tardies = 1 absence). Any student who
has 3 absences may be dropped from the class. Agreeing to this arrangement is part of your class participation
grade. It is unacceptable to be late. We all experience the same traffic and parking situations. If it is too
difficult to find parking at the time you arrive at campus you should arrive earlier to get a parking space. If you
cannot wake up early enough to arrive to class on time, you should consider dropping this class and finding
another section that has a later start time. There will be no exceptions to these rules.
Academic Integrity: Students must adhere to the SMC Code of Academic Conduct regarding plagiarism and
cheating: “Santa Monica College defines academic dishonesty as the act or assistance in deceiving, including
fraud or deception in an academic exercise. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, certain
actions not authorized by the instructor or testing officer, such as using notes or testing aids, allowing someone
else to assume one’s identity, falsifying records, plagiarism, changing answers on a previously scored
assignment or exam, copying, inventing information by any means during an exam. Check the SMC catalog
for additional details, including information on the consequences for academic conduct violations.” Students
who cheat will be reported to the Admissions and Records Office and will receive a failing grade on the
assignment or in the class.
Mechanics: In-class papers will be written in dark blue or black ink on white lined notebook paper, skipping
every other line so that you may have room to add or alter your work. In-class essays will be written in a blue
book. Out-of-class papers may be typed or word-processed, double-spaced, or may be written in dark ink on
every other line. In addition, all homework must be stapled before it is turned in.
Office Hour Policy: During this winter intersession, I will not have an office hour. If you have any questions,
the best way to contact me is by email. I will not have time to answer questions before or after class.
Technological Courtesy: No cell phones, pagers, mp3 players, or other electronic devices may be used in
class (this includes electronic dictionaries!). Cell phones must be turned OFF, not on Vibrate or Silent. If
your phone rings or vibrates during class, I will answer it and keep it at my desk!
Support Courses:
ESL 14A
ESL 14B
ESL 15
ESL 16A
ESL 16B
ESL 16 C
ESL 20A/B
ESL 23
ESL 28
Pronunciation and Spelling
American English Pronunciation
Oral Communication
Articles
Verbs
Clauses
Grammar Workshop (online sections available)**
Intermediate Reading Skills**
Academic Vocabulary Skills
Tutoring: Free tutoring is available in the ESL Center. Please sign up online (check the ESL Department
website). Bring in any ESL 21A assignments that you do not understand. Tutors will not proofread, correct
errors, or rewrite sentences. However, they will work with you on your individual English language problems.
Classroom Decorum: No food or drinks in the classroom. All cell phones and other electronic devices must
be shut off during class. If you speak while I or a student is speaking, you may be asked to leave the
classroom. If you need to use the restroom, quietly get up and go, but put your cellphone on my desk.
Smoking: Santa Monica College is a non-smoking campus. You may only smoke in designated areas. The
area around the ESL Department building is a non-smoking area.
Please Note: This syllabus may be changed at any time during the semester at the discretion of the instructor.
Supplementary readings, videos, and/or an additional short text may be assigned. Students should be familiar with and
log on to eCompanion. Class messages and homework assignments may be posted there as well as announced in class.
Other Support Services:
1) Students may use computers in the Cayton Center, the library, and Drescher Hall 203 & 204.
2) Academic counselors can be reached in the ISC (434-4217) and in Counseling (434-4210 or 434-4589).
3) Psychological counselors can be reached at 434-4262 or through Student Health.
4) Online Grammar Assist - http://www.smc.edu/esl/grammar_support/grammar_support.htm
Important Dates & Deadlines:
Last day to withdraw in Winter Session:
To receive enrollment fee and tuition refund
By web – Thu, Jan 5, 2012, 10 p.m.
To avoid a W on permanent record
By web – Mon, Jan 9, 2012, 10 p.m.
To receive a guaranteed W
By web – Sun, Jan 22, 2012, 10 p.m.
Study Buddies: It is a good idea to have study buddies for this class and every other class you take in college. Be sure to get the
name, phone number, and e-mail address of three study buddies. Use them as your resource for studying and sharing lectures notes.
Buddy 1:
Cheating and Plagiarism will
not be tolerated. No excuses!
Phone:
E-mail:
Buddy 2:
3 Tardies = 1 Absence
3 Absences = You may be
dropped from this class!
Phone:
E-mail:
Buddy 3:
Phone:
E-mail:
Make your life easy: FOLLOW DIRECTIONS.
Make up quizzes, tests, and assignments are not allowed, so please do not ask.
The course outline, syllabus and schedule are only a guide.
They are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS: (from Professor S. Kimmel, SMC)
I don’t give grades; you earn them. You are in charge of your own success or failure. Successful students have several traits and habits
in common. The following is a list of suggestions for doing well in my class.
 Follow the list of expected classroom behaviors. These behaviors are expected not only because they are polite in American
society, but also because they help you learn better.
 Study every day and keep up with readings and other class work. Do not plan to do all of your reading in one sitting or to
write an entire essay in one evening. Studies have shown that students who study a little every day perform better and retain
information longer than students who “cram”.
 Take good notes. You should take notes both in class, during lectures and group discussions, and while completing at-home
reading assignments. Good note-taking skills will help you retain more information, prepare for exams, and write better
essays in a shorter amount of time. Learning to paraphrase while taking notes will also help you avoid plagiarism in your
writing.
 Read, read, read! Students who read more exhibit better writing skills. We will do a lot of writing for this class, but reading is
important as well. Reading in English for pleasure for 20-30 minutes every day will help you immensely.
 Make friends in class and plan time to study together outside of class. Your classmates can be a valuable resource in helping
you to understand and master material and to integrate into the college community.
 If you need help, ask! Successful students know how to make use of the resources that are available to them. They make
appointments with ESL tutors if they need it, talk to their counselors, and they use the library. If you have questions about a
homework assignment, ask me after class/during office hours or send me an email.

Get enough sleep. Sleep is important to both your mental and physical health.
 Have fun! While studying is vital to your success, taking a break from time to time is equally important. Pursue a hobby, join
a club on campus, and/or attend campus activities. Students who socialize are happier and healthier than those who don’t.