CONTRA COSTA COLLEGE
COURSE OUTLINE
ESL 175
Editing and Grammar for Writers
18 weeks
2-3 lecture hours
2-3 units
Advisory: Successful completion of ESL 172 or appropriate score on ESL Placement Test
Course Description:
This course is designed to help high-advanced ESL students become aware of common language
problems in writing and learn effective strategies for reducing errors in their sentences. This
course will provide students with proofreading and editing practice, along with review and
clarification of troublesome areas of English grammar.
Course Objectives:
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
1. Identify and correct grammatical errors in discourse.
2. Demonstrate greater control over sentence-level errors in their own writing through the
application of self-editing strategies.
Course Content:
1. 50% writing and editing of student writing
2. 30% explicit instruction on grammar rules and analysis of common problems, including verb
tense and form, subordinate clauses, verb complements, modals, adverbial phrases, subject-verb
agreement, articles, word choice, word forms, collocations, and idiomatic expressions.
3. 20% editing exercises and grammar tests
Methods of Instruction:
1. Textbook exercises
2. Lecture and discussion
3. Student-instructor conferences
Instructional Materials:
1. Textbook: Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide, 2nd edition, Janet Lane &
Ellen Lange, Heinle & Heinle
2. Recommended dictionary: Longman Advanced American Dictionary
3. Supplementary materials provided by instructor
Course Expectations:
Students will spend approximately 4-5 hours per week on the following types of homework
assignments:
1. Reading of text material and completion of assigned exercises
2. Preparing for chapter quizzes and exams
3. Completing papers and writing assignments
Student Assessment:
1. Tests:
2. In-class writing assignments:
3. Out-of-class writing assignments:
3. Final exam:
20%
40%
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 of 69% or below.
Prepared by G. Segade Spring 2011