Northwest College
Instructor contact information
Instructor:
E-mail:
Mrs. Katherine Williams
katherine.williams@hccs.edu
INRW for NonNative Speakers
ESOL 0360
33651
Course Title:
Course Prefix:
Course Number:
Class Room Location:
Semester and Year:
Fall 2014
Class Days & Times:
Saturday 9-2
Alief Campus
Rm B123
Course overview
Catalog Description: This course is a combined 2 hour lecture/ 3 hour lab course designed to develop ESL students’
reading, critical thinking, and academic writing skills. The focus of the course will be on applying critical reading skills
for analyzing and retaining material and developing written work appropriate to the audience, purpose, and length of an
assignment. This course emphasizes vocabulary acquisition, including comprehension of figures of speech and the effect
of diction on the author’s tone. This course is designed to prepare non-native students for college level reading and
writing-intensive courses, including ENGL 1301. Students will learn to write effective, logical essays, utilizing textual
support to develop a thesis. Lab required. The course fulfills TSI requirements for reading and writing. Students who
successfully complete this course will qualify to take ENGL 1301.
Course Objectives: The primary objective is to teach students the central components of academic writing and prepare
them for future English composition and other college course writing as well as career writing. Students will gain
extensive experience using Writing Process, rhetorical modes, structural strategies, and standard conventions of grammar,
usage, and mechanics. Successful students will master these writing techniques with sufficient skill to address freshman
level English composition and any state testing requirements including the THEA.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Apply the writing process to understand a topic, generate ideas, develop an effective thesis, and apply multiple
rhetorical patterns in a single essay
2. Write coherent sentences in a variety of structures: simple, compound, complex, compound-complex
3. Generate ideas and gather information relevant to the topic and purpose; integrate ideas and words of outside
sources in student’s writing through paraphrasing, summarizing, quoting, and citing sources
4. Recognize and apply the conventions of standard English in reading and writing by remediating specific
language-use errors through extensive editing practice
5. Apply targeted reading strategies to lengthy texts ( up to 5,000 words); independently be able to recognize the
main idea, supporting details, and organization patterns of a reading passage
6. Identify the audience, purpose, and tone of a variety of authentic texts
7. Expand vocabulary acquisition, especially understanding connotation and denotation, figurative language (e.g.
simile, metaphor, hyperbole, irony, personification) , and recognizing the effect of diction on the author’s tone
Course Goals: By semester end, the student who passes with a "C" or above will have been able to:
1. Complete and comprehend reading assignments.
2. Attend class regularly, missing no more than 12.5% (8 hours) of instruction.
3. Participate in small group/class discussions to analyze and interpret essay models.
4. Write five or six passing essays as assigned.
5. Pass the final essay with 70%+ and achieve a 70%+ average in the course.
Support: Please contact me concerning any problems that you are experiencing in this course, and remember that you do
not need to wait until you have received a poor grade before asking for my assistance. I am available. Feel free to speak
to me before and after class (or make an appointment) to discuss things with you. Also, be sure to take advantage of the
tutors (see additional support) who are available during much of the day, five days a week.
Additional Support:
 Tutoring and Writing Centers
 On-Line Tutors: http://hccs.askonline.net
Getting ready
Prerequisites: A satisfactory score on the CELT Test or completion of previous course
Required text: New Directions: Reading, Writing, and Critical Thinking (by Peter S. Gardner)
Required Material: flash drive, computer access, paper and pen for notes, 2 pocket folders for portfolios, blue books
for exams
Lab Requirement(s)
This course has a 2 hour lab component.
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GRADE DETERMINATION:
Your grade will be
determined by the following
Details
Homework/Participation
All homework, quizzes, daily work, as well
as participation in class discussions
10%
Mid-term Portfolio
A way to showcase the student’s best
work of the first half of the semester
20%
Tests
Various tests given throughout the
course- see syllabus for dates. All tests
are essay tests.
25%
Final Portfolio
A way to demonstrate the growth of the
student’s writing over the semester
25%
Final Exam
The Final Exam for the class- see
syllabus for date
20%
Percent of Final Average
Total:
100%
LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT:
Letter Grade
Final Average in Percent
A
90 – 100
B
80 – 89
C
70 – 79
IP* or F
69 or below
* Please note that an “IP,” which stands for “In Progress,” is assigned to a student at the instructor’s discretion
based on a case-by-case basis. The instructor has the option of giving a student an “IP” in lieu of an “F” if a
student has put forth a substantial effort throughout the course but is still unable to successfully satisfy the
course requirements. If an “IP” is assigned to a student, the course must be repeated again to receive
institutional credit.
Instructor guidelines and policies
Attendance: Class attendance is absolutely necessary for your success in this course, therefore attendance
to all classes is required. An excessive number of absences will prohibit the successful completion of this
course. In case of absence, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain lecture notes and assignments from a
classmate. In the event that is not possible, the student may then arrange a time for the instructor to go over the
missed material. All tests need to be scheduled in advance of the missed day if at all possible. Anyone who
has missed more than 4 class days may be dropped from the course. A lot of important events
(discussions, class assignments, tests, etc.) occur at the beginning of class, so arrive on time- class will begin
with or without you! You will be counted absent for any of the following reasons :over 10 minutes late to
class, texting, emailing, using Facebook or other social media sites during class time, leaving early,
and/or sleeping. This is a participatory class, so be prepared to participate.
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Assignments: All assignments are to be completed and submitted to the instructor on the scheduled due date.
All work is to be submitted electronically via EO2. If you are absent, always contact a classmate to find out what
assignments were made or look at the syllabus. I will not accept ANY late daily work. Essays that are late
must be emailed to me by the next class day for a 10 point late deduction in the grade. After that time I
will not accept any late papers.
Academic Dishonesty:
The instructor reserves the right to take appropriate action in the event of plagiarism. One warning will be
issued with a grade of 0 on any plagiarized work. After the first warning, plagiarism in any form will result in a
final course grade of F and possible withdrawal from the course.
Exams: ALL EXAMS FOR THIS CLASS WILL BE ESSAYS!
Make-up exams:
Students will be allowed to take a different, make-up exam online. Students will have one week to complete the
exam. After the week, the student will no longer be able to take the exam and will receive a grade of 0.
Cell Phones and other devices: As a courtesy to others, please turn all cell phones to silent, vibrate, or off
before entering the classroom. All other electronic devices (iPods, iPhones, etc) need to be off and put away.
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Tentative Instructional Outline:
CLASS DATE
Aug
30
Sept
6
13
LECTURE TOPIC AND ACTIVITY
Go over instructional outline and syllabus
Discuss writing process, especially pre-writing strategies
Review pre-writing
Thesis statement
Outline ideas
Go over Reader Response Journal- read “Why I Want a Wife” p. 449
HW: RRJ on : “Shooting an Elephant”, “Marrying Absurd”, and “Why Leaves Turn Color
in the Fall”
HW: View learning styles web pages and complete quiz
HW DUE
Organizing Essay- 5 paragraphs
Go over Process Paper
Assign Essay #1
Nouns/Subjects, Verbs, Pronouns, Sub-verb agreement, Noun-pronoun agreement
HW: RRJ on: “The Serpents of Paradise”, “Fifth Avenue, Uptown”, “Grant and Lee”
Process Essay Due/HW DUE
Go Over Compare/Contrast Essay
Assign Essay #2
Assign the Portfolio- due Sept. 27th
Punctuation- commas, semi-colons
Go over how to do timed writings
20
27
Oct
4
HW: RRJ on : “The Company Man”, “Am I Blue?”, “Test Day”, ”, “Neat People vs. Sloppy
People”
Comp/Cont Essay Due/HW DUE
Assign Project- due Oct 11th
TEST
HW: RRJ on : “What is Poverty”, “Meanings of a Word”
PORTFOLIO/HW due
Go Over Definition/Classification Paper
Assign Essay #3
Review
HW: RRJ on “ Where Have All the Parents Gone”, “If Hitler Asked you to …” “China’s
Biggest Gamble”
Essay Due/ HW Due
TEST
Project Work day
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11
18
25
Nov
1
8
15
22
29
Dec
6
Project Due/HW DUE
Go over Argument Essay
Assign Essay #4
HW: RRJ on “A Modest Proposal”, “Mother Tongue “Only Daughter”, “On Dumpster
Diving
Argument Essay Due/ HW Due
Go over how to do on-line research
Assign Essay #5- mini-research paper
Assign Essay #6- argument
Work on Research Paper
Argument Essay Due
Research Paper Due
Test
Assign Portfolio
Discuss critical analysis of a literary work
Assign Essay #7- lit. analysis
Essay Due
Discuss critical analysis of a literary work with research
Assign Essay #8- lit. analysis
NO CLASS DUE TO THANKSGIVING
Essay Due/ Portfolio Due
Review for Final Exam
FINAL EXAM@ 10 AM
Early Alert: Please be aware that I will refer students to the Early Alert system that I notice having difficulties in
the classroom, whether they are academic or personal. To be successful in the college system (which is a
student’s goal and an instructor’s job to facilitate), handling academic and personal problems early in the
semester makes for an enjoyable and rewarding college experience. This is not a penalty but an attempt to get
you, the student, the free help and assistance you may need.
HCC Policy Statement - ADA
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to
arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the
beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized
to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support
Services Office.
For questions, please contact Donna Price at 713.718.5165 or the Disability
Counselor at your college. To visit the ADA Web site, please visit
www.hccs.edu then click Future students, scroll down the page and click on
the words Disability Information.
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District ADA Coordinator –
Central ADA Counselors –
Northeast ADA CounselorNorthwest ADA Counselor –
Southeast ADA Counselor –
Southwest ADA Counselor –
Coleman ADA Counselor –
Donna Price – 713.718.5165
Jaime Torres - 713.718.6164
Martha Scribner – 713.718.6164
Kim Ingram – 713.718.8420
Mahnaz Kolaini – 713.718.5422
Jette Lott - 713.718.7218
Dr. Becky Hauri – 713.718.7910
Dr. Raj Gupta – 713.718.7631
HCC Policy Statement: Academic Honesty
A student who is academically dishonest is, by definition, not showing that the coursework has been learned,
and that student is claiming an advantage not available to other students. The instructor is responsible for
measuring each student's individual achievements and also for ensuring that all students compete on a level
playing field. Thus, in our system, the instructor has teaching, grading, and enforcement roles. You are expected
to be familiar with the University's Policy on Academic Honesty, found in the catalog. What that means is: If you
are charged with an offense, pleading ignorance of the rules will not help you. Students are responsible for
conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary
proceedings may be initiated by College System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty.
“Scholastic dishonesty”: includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
Cheating on a test includes:





Copying from another students’ test paper;
Using materials not authorized by the person giving the test;
Collaborating with another student during a test without authorization;
Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents of a
test that has not been administered;
Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in
one’s own written work offered for credit.
Collusion mean the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work offered for credit.
Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of 0 or F in the particular assignment,
failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal from the College System. (See the
Student Handbook)
HCC Policy Statements
Class Attendance - It is important that you come to class! Attending class regularly is the best way to succeed in
this class. Research has shown that the single most important factor in student success is attendance. Simply
put, going to class greatly increases your ability to succeed. You are expected to attend all lecture and labs
regularly. You are responsible for materials covered during your absences. Class attendance is checked daily.
Although it is your responsibility to drop a course for nonattendance, the instructor has the authority to drop you
for excessive absences.
If you are not attending class, you are not learning the information. As the information that is discussed in class
is important for your career, students may be dropped from a course after accumulating absences in excess of
12.5% hours of instruction. The eight hours of class time would include any total classes missed or for excessive
tardiness or leaving class early.
You may decide NOT to come to class for whatever reason. As an adult making the decision not to attend, you
do not have to notify the instructor prior to missing a class. However, if this happens too many times, you may
suddenly find that you have “lost” the class.
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Poor attendance records tend to correlate with poor grades. If you miss any class, including the first week, you
are responsible for all material missed. It is a good idea to find a friend or a buddy in class who would be willing
to share class notes or discussion or be able to hand in paper if you unavoidably miss a class.
Class attendance equals class success.
HCC Course Withdrawal Policy
If you feel that you cannot complete this course, you will need to withdraw from the course prior to the final date
of withdrawal. Before, you withdraw from your course; please take the time to meet with the instructor to
discuss why you feel it is necessary to do so. The instructor may be able to provide you with suggestions that
would enable you to complete the course. Your success is very important. Beginning in fall 2007, the Texas
Legislature passed a law limiting first time entering freshmen to no more than SIX total course withdrawals
throughout their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree.
To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by
which your professor may “alert” you and HCC counselors that you might fail a class because of excessive
absences and/or poor academic performance. It is your responsibility to visit with your professor or a counselor
to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be available to assist you – online tutoring, child care,
financial aid, job placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic performance.
If you plan on withdrawing from your class, you MUST contact a HCC counselor or your professor prior to
withdrawing (dropping) the class for approval and this must be done PRIOR to the withdrawal deadline to
receive a “W” on your transcript. **Final withdrawal deadlines vary each semester and/or depending on class
length, please visit the online registration calendars, HCC schedule of classes and catalog, any HCC
Registration Office, or any HCC counselor to determine class withdrawal deadlines. Remember to allow a 24hour response time when communicating via email and/or telephone with a professor and/or counselor.
Do not submit a request to discuss withdrawal options less than a day before the deadline. If you do not
withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you are making in the class as your final grade.
Repeat Course Fee
The State of Texas encourages students to complete college without having to repeat failed classes. To
increase student success, students who repeat the same course more than twice, are required to pay extra
tuition. The purpose of this extra tuition fee is to encourage students to pass their courses and to graduate.
Effective fall 2006, HCC will charge a higher tuition rate to students registering the third or subsequent time for a
course. If you are considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades, confer with your
instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework, test taking
skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available.
Classroom Behavior
As your instructor and as a student in this class, it is our shared responsibility to develop and maintain a positive
learning environment for everyone. Your instructor takes this responsibility very seriously and will inform
members of the class if their behavior makes it difficult for him/her to carry out this task. As a fellow learner, you
are asked to respect the learning needs of your classmates and assist your instructor achieve this critical goal.
Use of Camera, Recording Devices, and other Electronic Devices
As a student active in the learning community of this course, it is your responsibility to be respectful of the
learning atmosphere in your classroom. To show respect of your fellow students and instructor, you will turn off
your phone and other electronic devices, and will not use these devices in the classroom unless you receive
permission from the instructor.
Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms,
laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Students with
disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable accommodation should contact the Office for
Students with Disabilities for information regarding reasonable accommodations.
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Cell phones are an increasing problem in the classroom. It is my policy that cell phones are not to be heard nor
seen. It causes a disruption in the classroom. All cell phones must be either turned off or on silent (not vibrate).
Accepting phone calls or leaving class to make them is not acceptable. If you have an emergency situation,
please discuss this with the instructor prior to class, not during class time. Repeated infractions will result in a
referral to the Early Alert system for intervention.
Instructor Requirements
As your Instructor, it is my responsibility to:
 Provide the grading scale and detailed grading formula explaining how student grades are to be derived
 Facilitate an effective learning environment through class activities, discussions, and lectures
 Description of any special projects or assignments
 Inform students of policies such as attendance, withdrawal, tardiness and make up
 Provide the course outline and class calendar which will include a description of any special projects or
assignments
 Arrange to meet with individual students before and after class as required
To be successful in this class, it is the student’s responsibility to:
 Attend class and participate in class discussions and activities
 Read and comprehend the textbook
 Complete the required assignments and exams:
 Ask for help when there is a question or problem
 Keep copies of all paperwork, including this syllabus, handouts and all assignments
Grading
Your instructor will conduct quizzes, exams, and assessments that you can use to determine how successful
you are at achieving the course learning outcomes (mastery of course content and skills) outlined in the
syllabus. If you find you are not mastering the material and skills, you are encouraged to reflect on how you
study and prepare for each class. Your instructor welcomes a dialogue on what you discover and may be able to
assist you in finding resources on campus that will improve your performance
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