COURSE OUTLINE
ESL 263.03
Time: T Th 10:30 a.m. –12:20:p.m.
Room: MQ2
Instructor: Gretchen Himes
E-mail: himesgretchen@fhda.edu
Low Advanced Writing
4.0 Units
Cell Phone: 408-239-3069
Website:
http://faculty.deanza.edu/himesgretchen/
PREREQUISITE: English as a Second Language 225 and 253; or a qualifying score on the
English as a Second Language placement test. Co-requisite: English as a Second Language
263 students may also enroll in English as a Second Language 261 and 262 concurrently.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The objective of ESL 263 is to help ESL students improve their
paragraph/essay writing skills for social and business, and/or academic purposes. After
completing this class you will be better able to:
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Write well-developed, single and connected analytical paragraphs demonstrating levelspecific grammar and vocabulary in response to reading materials.
Evaluate own writing for unity, coherence, clarity and development rhetorical structure and
clarity to revise and edit
REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS:
 Developing Composition Skills (3rd ed) by Ruetten
 Top 20: Great Grammar for Great Writing (2nd ed) by Folse
 An English dictionary
CLASS ACTIVITIES: The class activities will focus on improving paragraph/essay writing skills
through the use of reading and writing exercises in your texts as well as other sources and will
include lectures, small/large group-work, and quizzes.
GRADING CRITERIA:
There are two criteria for passing ESL 263.
1. A passing grade of "C" or higher on class work.
2. A passing grade on the portfolio.
Grading will be based on completion of homework assignments, participation in class activities,
quizzes and essays, and the portfolio.
 Class Participation & Preparedness………………………………… 10%
Participation & Preparedness mean:
• Being in your seat, ready to work at the beginning of class;
• Being actively engaged in what is going in the classroom;
• Staying until the end of class.
• Taking responsibility for your learning process in this class;
• Asking for help when you do not understand something;
• Working willingly and appropriately with your classmates in pairs and groups;
• Listening respectfully when others are talking;
• Doing the homework before you come to class;
• Not texting, checking, or answering your cell phone in class or leaving class to take a call.
 Quizzes……………………………………………………………………. 10%
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 Writing Drafts & Other Homework………………………………..….. 10%
 In-Class And Take Home Compositions…………..………………... 70%
 Portfolio……………………………………………………….Must Achieve Passing Grade
More information on the portfolio will be provided later.
CLASS POLICIES: All homework should be completed before coming to class. Any missed in-class
quizzes cannot be made up. Out-of-class quizzes can only be made up if the answers have not
yet been given. I will drop the lowest quiz score. I will not give make-up tests nor will I give the
final exam to individual students outside of the assigned time. If you know you will be absent for a
quiz or test, tell me before so other arrangements can be made.
Attendance is very important. If you are absent more than 3 classes you will either be dropped
or you will not receive credit for the class.
If you do miss a class, it is your responsibility to contact your classmates or me, get the
assignments for the following day and come to class prepared.
Classmate #1 Name
Phone
Email
Classmate #2 Name
Phone
Email
Cheating and copying papers from other students or outside sources will not be tolerated. If a
student is caught cheating or copying, he/she will receive reduced or no credit for the
assignment. A student may be asked to leave the class and receive an F for the class after
repeated cheating. This applies to both the “borrower” and the “lender”! Please do your own
work; that is the fastest road to progress.
SPECIAL NEEDS:
Please inform the instructor if you have a physical or learning disability that requires special
accommodations.
Important Dates
Last day for non-resident and foreign students to drop for a refund.
Saturday, April 13
Last day for residents to drop with a refund
Saturday, April 20
Last day to add
Saturday, April 20
Last day to drop a class with no grade
Sunday, April 21
Last day to request Pass/No Pass grade
Friday, May 3
Last day to drop with a “W”
Friday, May 31
Final exam date
Wednesday, June 26, 9:15-11:15
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