Intensive English Program
Gulfton Center Southwest College
ESOL 0351 - 0080 Advanced Intermediate Writing for Foreign Speakers
CRN 61400 – Spring 2011
Gulfton Center - Room 102 | 11-1:20 M/W
3 hour lecture/2 hour lab course / 80 hours per semester/ 16 weeks
Instructor: Andrea Stewart
Instructor Contact Information: andrea.stewart@hccs.edu/718-718-7750
Learning Web: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/andrea.stewart
Office location and hours By appointment
Course Description.
A continuation of ESOL 0347. This course concentrates on the development of writing skills, reviews the
paragraph and its essential elements, and introduces the multi-paragraph essay.
Prerequisites Completion of ESOL 0345, 0346, 0347 & 0348, or appropriate placement score.
Corequisites: ESOL 0349, 0350, 0352
Course Goal
ESOL 0351, Advanced Intermediate Writing seeks to prepare students for college level academic or
workforce study. The course:
Teaches students the basic principles of composition organization and structure
Introduces student to the idea of writing as a complex process of interrelates stages of prewriting, drafting
and revision
Strengthens students’ grasp of sentence construction and sentence combining
Raises students’ awareness of the need to revise and improve their writing
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will: 1. Use mechanical conventions of written English in written assignments. 2. Review all verb
forms and tenses that are likely to be encountered in writing a moderate-length written assignment suitable
to the advanced-intermediate English learner. 3. Produce an appropriate variety of sentence types in a
moderate-length written assignment suitable to the advanced-intermediate English learner. 4. Compose and
revise a moderate-length composition of several paragraphs, using a clearly-defined writing process.
Learning objectives
Students will:
ESOL 0351 Advanced Intermediate Composition seeks to prepare students for continuation into ESOL 0354
and ultimately for college composition courses and academic writing in general by accomplishing the
following objectives:
1. Strengthening students’ awareness of the basic notions of paragraph development, particularly the role of
the topic sentence and the internal logical development of the paragraph.
2. Introducing the students to the basic principles of the multi – paragraph composition, focusing especially
on the role of the introductory and concluding paragraphs, drafting an effective thesis statement, and
organizing the composition according to a clear logical pattern.
3. Improving students’ sentence combination skills, especially in the area of the strategy and techniques of
coordination within compound sentences and within simple complex sentences.
4. Increasing student awareness of the nature of the writing process, especially in the area of effective topic
construction and in the necessity and techniques of revision and editing.
16 WEEK CALENDAR
NOTE: This schedule is approximate; I may make changes to it if necessary to cover the required material in
the course. If I make changes, I will give you a revised calendar.
Week 1
Diagnostic Essay, Introduction to Class
Chapter 1 Elements of Good Writing
Practice Prewriting
Week 2
Continue Chapter 1
Chapter 2 Writing Paragraphs
Practice Paragraph (no grade)
Week 3
Continue Chapter 2
Chapter 3 Revising and Editing
In-class Paragraph #1
Handouts on sentence combining
Week 4
Continue Chapter 3
Quiz on Chapter 1 and 2
Chapter 4 Writing Essays
Week 5
Continue Chapter 4
In-class Essay #1
Week 6
Chapter 5 Process
Essays
Quiz on Chapter 3 and 4
Week 7
Continue Chapter 5
In-class Essay #2
Midterm Quiz on Chapters 1-5
Week 8
Chapter 7 Causes and Effects
Midterm Exam
Week 9
Continue Chapter 7
In-class Essay #3
Week 10
Chapter 8 Comparison/Contrast
Week 11
Continue Chapter 8
Week 12
Continue Chapter 8
In-class Essay #4
Week 13
Chapter 9 Problem-Solution Essays
Quiz: combining sentences and sentence errors
Week 14
Continue Chapter 9
Make-up essays/paragraphs (from all semester) in class.
Week 15
Continue Chapter 9
Review
Final Exam
Week 16
Holidays and Important Dates
Presidents’ Day (No classes) February 21
Spring Break (No classes) March 14-18
Last Day for Administrative/Student Withdrawals April 14 at 4:00 PM
Final Exams May 9 and 10
Instructional Methods
These may include:
Student writing of different kinds
Class or group writing of outlines and essays
Individual writing of essays
Reading and analyzing paragraphs and essays to see how they are constructed
Exercises on pre-writing skills such as generating, developing and organizing ideas
Activities on grammar, and vocabulary needed for a particular kind of essay
Activities on sentence types
Activities on revising an essay for content and other errors and ways to correct them
Revising and rewriting teacher corrected compositions
Peer editing of outlines and essays
Individual conferences for essays
Timed free writing for fluency
Dictation
Lecture
Discussion (in whole class, groups, or pairs).
Activities in the course book, on handouts, or online
Student Assignments
Homework assignments will include writing on different topics especially on your own experience.
Writing or completing work covered in class such as revising essays, writing outlines or writing essays in
whole or part, writing essays from outlines made in class work. Students will rewrite homework essays and
in-class essays using teacher feedback.
Homework is due on the next class day. If you are absent you are still responsible for the homework, so
work missed while absent has to be done on your return. Please get a classmate’s phone number or email
me to find out what you missed.
Student Assessments
Five in class compositions (and revisions) and the final composition
Homework compositions, homework exercises, other writing
Quizzes and tests on work covered in class
Automatic failure on final exam: Fewer than 150 words, off topic, no thesis statement or topic sentences, or
all simple sentences. Quizzes: There will be some quizzes including unannounced ones on homework or
topics we have been studying.
Dictionaries and electronic devices are not allowed in writing tests and quizzes.
Make up policy on in-class compositions: If you miss ONE composition, there will be a day at the end of
the semester for make up essays . This will be a great inconvenience for you as essays take a long time to
write and you will miss some other class activities. DO NOT MISS MORE THAN ONE. These are IN CLASS
COMPOSITIONS AND ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO TAKE IN CLASS WHEN SCHEDULED.
Instructional Materials
1. Textbook: Ready to Write More, Blanchard & Root (Longman, 2nd ed.) Required
2. Dictionary: Longman Dictionary of American English (Longman) Optional or any English-English
dictionary.
HCC Policy Statements
ADA
Services to Students with Disabilities Students who require reasonable accommodations for disabilities are
encouraged to report to Dr. Becky Hauri at 713-718-7910 to make necessary arrangements. Faculty is only
authorized to provide accommodations by the Disability Support Service Office. Please see this website for
more information:
http://hccs.edu/student-rights
Academic Honesty
Academic Honesty (Dishonesty = Cheating): Any form of cheating or copying, (plagiarism) will result in a
0 for that assignment and possibly recommendation for probation or dismissal from the college system.
Cheating includes copying from another student during a test or giving another student answers in a test.
One form of cheating is copying from the Internet or another text and handing it in as your work. Another
form of cheating is memorizing text from the Internet or a book and using those words as your own on a test
or homework. ALL work has to be written by the student and not copied from another source.
Attendance
According to the HCC’s Student Handbook, you may be dropped from a course after accumulating
absences in excess of 12.5 percent of the total hours of instruction (lecture and lab). For Intensive English if
you exceed a total of 10 hours (12.5%) of absence in any class (4 days of any class including labs), you can
be discontinued from ALL classes. This will make F1 students out of status and cause visa problems.
Please email me if you are absent and talk to me on your return to get homework.
Tardiness and in-class time absence: Classes and tests begin promptly. Lateness of 15 minutes or more
count as class or lab absence. Three tardies (lateness) = 1 absence. Lateness after break times, leaving
early or disappearing during class or lab are also counted as absences. Texting, using social networking
sites, or other improper use of technology during class time or lab time are also counted towards your
absences (1 warning= 1 tardy).
Class attendance equals class success.
Students Repeating For A Third Time (Threepeat):
Repeating students: Students who repeat a course for three or more times will face a tuition fee increase at
HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. If you are having trouble in class talk to your teacher
and go for tutoring. Get other assistance from a counselor before withdrawing or if you are not receiving
passing grades.
If a student fails a class for the second time, he or she will receive an F for that class.
Students should get help so that they do not fail. Students who need extra help should see me after school
or in break times or find a class buddy.
Tutoring is also available after school on Tuesday to Thursday from 1.30 to 2.30 in room 105 and Fridays
from 9 -11 in the audio lab.
Sexual Harrassment:
Sexual harassment in any form is not tolerated at Houston Community College. It is a violation of HCCS
policy for an employee, agent, or student of the college to engage in sexual harassment as defined
in the EEOC guidelines (EEO/AA Compliance Handbook 47). See HCCS Student Handbook for more
information.
Hcc Withdrawal Deadline:
To drop a class, you must see a counselor. The nearest place to see one is at West Loop campus. Or you
may see the advisor in room 117. The last day students may withdraw or be dropped from a class with a
grade of W is Thursday April 14th before 4:30p.m. Students who have excessive absences after that date
will receive the grades they earn.
Note: International students will be out of status if they drop their classes and may have to go back
to their country. Speak with a counselor or the advisor before dropping classes to make sure of the
procedures.
Classroom Behavior Treat your classmates and teacher with respect. Use English. Make the most of your
class time by actively participating in discussions and activities. Do not use your cell phone to text during
class. Turn your cell phone to vibrate and keep it in your pocket if you are expecting an emergency call.
Use of Camera and/or Recording Devices
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
Misuse of Electronic Devices in the Classroom
The use of electronic devices by students in the classroom is up to the discretion of the instructor. Any use
of such devices for purposes other than student learning is strictly prohibited. If an instructor perceives such
use as disruptive and/or inappropriate, the instructor has the right to terminate such use. If the behavior
continues, the student may be subject to disciplinary action to include removal from the classroom or referral
to the Dean of Student Services. Please see Attendance Policy for this class.
Disruptive Behavior
Students that conduct themselves in a manner that significantly interferes with college teaching, research,
administration, disciplinary procedures or other authorized college activities (including its public service
functions) on the college premises will be subject to disciplinary action.
Instructor Requirements
The teacher needs to:
Create a rich learning environment for writing and student interaction
Provide grading scales and assessment
Give students extra writing
Give assignments on computers on a range of topics connected to the course
Make tests and assignments clear
Tell students about important HCC policies such as attendance policies and academic honesty
Make a class calendar available
Make arrangements to keep in contact with students when they need help or have questions
To succeed in college the students need to:
Attend class, participate in activities, listen to the teacher and classmates, and ask questions.
Create a good learning environment. Turn off cell phones or use vibrate mode for an emergencies.
Do assignments and homework regularly. Do not wait until the last moment to do your writing homework.
Writing is a skill that builds up over time and needs frequent practice.
Do your own work. Do not copy from the Internet or books. Have fun with English. Practice your English by
making friends, reading books, going to movies, watching TV, or volunteering in the community.
Program/Discipline Requirements
Students in 0351 Advanced Intermediate Writing have to fulfill the following requirements to pass the class:
A minimum of 5 graded compositions done in class. A maximum of one can be a graded single paragraph
(75-100 words) The rest or all will be multi-paragraph essays (200-300 words) including the final
examination.
The following rhetorical organizations are to be covered:
Process
Division and classification
Comparison/contrast
Causes and effects
Problem/solution
Students are required to revise and rewrite their in-class compositions (excluding the midterm and final
compositions). Teachers should encourage students to take the revision process seriously.
Students should do regular and frequent alternative free writing activities which will be inspected regularly by
teachers. This may take various forms such as a journal or summaries. The assessment will be up to the
teacher but teachers will not generally be expected to correct and grade each entry.
HCC GRADING SCALE
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
IP or F Below 70
In progress, but not passing
INSTRUCTOR GRADING CRITERIA:
Your final grade will be calculated as follows:
Compositions
Quizzes
Alternative Writing/Homework
Final composition
60%
10%
10%
20%
100%