1
Intensive English Program
Northeast College
Northline Campus
Instructor: Dr. Julie Cote
Course: ESOL 0347 –Intermediate Composition for Foreign Speakers
CRN: 83711
Telephone: 713/718-8181
Email: julia.cote@hccs.edu
Office Location: Room 310
Office Hours: T/TH afternoon by appointment.
Class Location/Time: Northline Campus – Room 218 9:00-11:10a.m. TTH
Textbook: First Steps in Academic Writing (second edition) by Ann Hogue.
Course description: A continuation of ESOL 0343. This course expands writing skills
through writing simple and compound sentences. Students broaden their knowledge of
paragraph organization and the importance of unity and coherence in the paragraph.
Course Corequisites: ESOL 0345, ESOL 0346, AND ESOL 0348.
Course objectives: Students will be able to write longer and more complex sentences
in English. They will also learn to organize their thoughts to form well-developed
paragraphs with a minimum of basic structural errors.
Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Know the basic mechanics of basic English composition.
2. Produce a variety of sentences in a composition.
3. Carry out a definite writing process to prepare to draft a composition.
4. Compose and revise a well-organized composition with a minimum of errors.
Grading Criteria:
Journals
In-Class Compositions
Final Exam
Grading Scale:
90-100=
80-89=
70-79=
Below 70=
20%
60%
20%
A
B
C
IP or F
Course Assignments:
Journal: Students will write one (1) journal entry per week over a ten (10) week period.
Compositions: Students will write five (5) in-class compositions of paragraph length.
Final Exam: Students will write a paragraph for the final exam.
2
Attendance Policy: The HCCS policy is that if a student is absent for 12.5% of the time (4
class days during a 16 week semester), she or he may be dropped from the course. The
student is responsible for all work missed while absent. If you are more than 15 minutes late,
you are considered absent. You must return from lunch and breaks on time. Attendance is
marked beginning the first official day of classes, not the day that you register/enroll.
Make-up Policy: It is very important that you come to class. If you miss an in-class
composition day, you may make up the composition the next class day. Please be
aware that the topic you receive for the make-up composition may not be the same
oneyour classmates received. There will be no make-ups for other work except in cases
of extreme emergencies. You must call the office at 713-718-8181 if you have an
emergency.
Scholastic Dishonesty: I expect all of you to be responsible students. . Copying
another person’s writing is called “plagiarism” and is a form of cheating. A student who
cheats will be given a grade of zero for that assignment. Multiple instances of cheating
may lead to being dropped from the course.
Cell Phones and Electronic Devices: All cell phones and any electronic devices must
be turned off during class. If the phone or device rings/beeps/makes noise during class, I
will hold it until class is over. Turn off your cell phone before you enter the classroom.
Talking and text messaging on the cell phone are not allowed during class time. The
only reason you should be disturbed during class is for a real emergency. If you must be
reached in an emergency, the person should call the Intensive English office. Someone
will come to get you out of class. Laptop computers, iPods, and any other electronic
devices must be put away while you are in class.
Classroom policy: I am extremely allergic to perfumes, colognes, hairsprays, lotions,
and cigarette smoke. Please do not wear any to class and do not smoke directly before
class or on a break. I may ask you to leave class if I cannot breathe you. This will
count as an absence or early leave.
Textbook Policy: Having a textbook is a requirement of this class. You must bring your
textbook to class every day. Student who do not have a textbook by the third week of
the semester will not be allowed to attend class. You will be asked to leave until you
have your book(s). This will count as an absence.
Student Conduct: Sleeping in class is disrespectful. If you sleep during class,
you will be asked to leave. This will count as one absence.
Disability Support: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning,
psychiatric, developmental, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable
accommodations must contact the Disability Support Services (DSS) Counselor at the
beginning of each semester. Faculty members are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the DSS Office. Ms. Kim Ingram is the Northeast
College’s DSS counselor. Her telephone number is 713-718-8420.
3
Level II Writing
Course Calendar
Spring 2012
Week 1
1/17&18
Diagnostic Composition
Chapter 1: Introducing People, pp. 1-19
(Parts 1 & 2)
Week 2
1/24&26
Continue with chapter 1 (parts 3 & 4), pp. 20-31
Week 3
1/31&2/2
In-Class Composition #1
Chapter 2: Listing –Order Paragraphs (part 1), pp. 33-52
Week 4
2/7&9
Continue with chapter 2 (parts 2 & 3), pp. 53-64
Week 5
2/14&16
Chapter 3: Giving Instructions (parts 1 & 2), pp. 65-85
Week 6
3/21&23
Continue with chapter 3 (parts 3 & 4), pp. 86-93
Week 7
2/28&3/1
In-Class Composition #2
Journal Check #1 (4 entries)
Chapter 4: Describing a Place (parts 1 & 2), pp. 94-111
4
Week 8
3/6&8
Continue chapter 4 (parts 3 & 4), pp. 112-119
3/13&15
NO CLASS
Week 9
3/20&22
In-Class Composition #3
Journal Check #2 (2 entries)
Chapter 5: Stating Reasons and Using Examples
(parts 1 & 2), pp. 121-138
Week 10
3/27&293
Continue chapter 5 (parts 3 & 4), pp. 139-144
Week 11
4/3&5
Chapter 6: Expressing Your Opinion (part 1 & 2),
pp. 145-169
Week 12
4/10&12
Continue with chapter 6 (parts 3 & 4), pp. 170-172
In-Class Composition #4
Week 13
4/17&19
Finish Journals in Lab
Journal Check #3 (4 entries)
Week 14
4/24&26
Appendix F: Business Letters
Week 15
5/1&3
Prepare for the Final Exam
Week 16
5/8
Final Exam: Tuesday, May 8
9:00-11:00 a.m.
SPRING BREAK
EGLS3 – Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is
necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked
to answer a short online survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The
anonymous result of the survey will be made available to your professor and division
chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the
Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term.
5
Journal Assignment
Level II Writing
You will be responsible for writing a journal entry every week beginning Week 4 and
ending Week 13. You will write ten journal entries this semester. I will pick up the
journals three time: the due dates are listed on the course calendar. Please give your
journal to the teacher at the beginning of the class on the day it is due.
What is a journal?
A journal is a form of informal writing in which you express your thoughts, feelings,
ideas, and opinions about something. It is not a formal composition.
What is the purpose of a journal?
The purpose of a journal is to give you more practice in writing but in an informal way.
When you write a journal, you are discussing more personal and less formal ideas, so
you don't have to be concerned about the elements of formal writing like the main idea
and supporting sentences.
What do I write in my journal?
You can write about anything you want to. For example, if you see something on TV.
that you have a strong reaction to, you can write about that. If you have a wonderful
weekend with your family, you can write about that. Topics for journals are anything you
are interested in writing about. However, many students have trouble deciding on their
own topics sometimes, so I have created a list of suggestions for you. Remember, these
are only suggestions, so you don't have to write about all or any of these.
How will the journal be graded?
The grading of the journal is simple. If you turn in a journal of the appropriate length
each week, you will receive credit for it. I will correct major errors (mistakes) in your
journals (but not every mistake), but I will not count off points or give a number grade to
each individual journal.
How long must the journal be?
If you write by hand, it must be two full pages double-spaced. If you write the journal by
hand, you must use standard 8.5 X 11 lined notebook paper. If you choose to type your
journal on the computer, it must be a minimum of one full page double-spaced.
No late journals will be accepted! It is your responsibility to do this on your own
(at home) or in lab and turn it in.
6
Suggested Journal Topics
(You can write about these or choose your own topic)
1.
Describe the town where you were born.
2.
Tell about an interesting trip you took.
3.
Tell about an interesting place you have been in Houston.
4.
Describe a movie or TV show you like.
5.
Tell about your first day in the United States. What were your impressions and
how did you feel?
6.
Describe your best friend. Why do you like her/him?
7.
Describe a room in your childhood home.
8.
Tell how to make a typical food in your country.
9.
What do you like or not like about your job?
10.
What are your children like? What do they like to do?
11.
Describe a beautiful place in your country.
12.
Describe a wonderful day or a terrible day that you have experienced.