CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE
COURSE OUTLINE
ESL 163
Grammar/Writing I
Number of weeks: 18
Lecture hours:
4
Units:
4
Advisory: Appropriate score on ESL Placement Test
Course Description: This course provides instruction in grammar and writing for high-beginning
ESL students.
Course Objectives:
At the completion of the course, students will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Use specific grammar points to write simple sentences and passages.
Identify grammatical patterns in readings.
Identify basic parts of speech and their uses in sentences.
Apply basic proofreading skills to help control sentence-level errors.
Course Content:
1.
15%
Present and past forms of “be”:
 Affirmative and negative statements and questions
 There is/there are
2.
60%
Verb tenses: formation and use in statements, yes/no questions, and information questions
 Present progressive tense
 Present tense and adverbs of frequency
 Past tense with regular and high-frequency irregular verbs
 Introduction to future tense
3.
25%
Parts of speech and their uses in sentences:
 nouns: singular/plural, count/non-count
 subject pronouns
 verbs
 adjectives, including possessive adjectives
 prepositions: in, on, at
 articles
Methods of Instruction:
1.
2.
Explicit instruction on grammatical structures, including proofreading and editing
Exercises, including identification of structures in texts
3.
4.
5.
Pair and group discussions/activities
Feedback on student writing and oral production
Computer-aided instruction
Required Texts and Materials:
1.
2.
Textbook: Grammar in Context, Book 1, 5th edition, Sandra Elbaum, Heinle & Heinle
Instructor-prepared handouts
Course Expectations:
Students will spend approximately 8 hours per week on the following types of homework assignments:
1.
2.
3.
Reading of text material and completion of exercises
Reading of supplemental materials [such as articles and stories]
Completion of writing assignments
Student Assessment:
1.
2.
4.
5.
Tests:
Homework and class work (including quizzes):
In and out of class writing assignments:
Final exam:
40%
20%
20%
20%
Grading Policy:
A letter grade will be assigned based on the following categories:
90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, 70-79% = C, 60-69% = D, below 60% = F.
Students who choose the credit/no credit option will receive CR for an average of 70% and above, or
NC for an average below 70%.
Revised by N. Borhan, G. Segade, E. Smith, L. Statan, and E. Xiezopolski, Fall 2010