SYLLABUS
American University of Central Asia
New Generation Academy
English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
Level 3
Fall 2015
Course code: Prep 032/Prep 023, ID: 2838/2834
Schedule: Tuesday 9:00-11:35 and Wednesday 13:10-15:45
Instructor: Blaskovich, Sarah
E-mail: blaskovich_s@auca.kg
I.
Introduction
English for Academic Purposes (EAP): Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking is designed to
prepare you for academic studies in the English language. During this course, you will encounter a
variety of texts, including graphics, charts, information text, narrative text, persuasive text, descriptive
texts, conversations, and lectures. Working individually and in groups, students will apply new and
developing skills to think critically about and present on relevant and global issues.
II.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
A. Distinguish between main idea and details.
B. Make inferences from a reading or a listening text.
C. Organize written and spoken responses, classifying information, using topic sentences,
integrating examples, synthesizing ideas, and including transition words to show connections
between ideas.
D. Understand and apply the differences between informative, narrative, descriptive, and
persuasive texts.
E. Compare and contrast information in charts and written or spoken texts, using correct
comparative forms of adjectives and nouns.
F. Differentiate between fact and opinion, and be to able to support opinions with reasons.
G. Accurately distinguish between when to use simple and progressive verb tenses.
H. Correctly use modal verbs to tell about ability.
I. Use vocabulary building strategies, such as context clues, word forms, and synonyms.
J. Demonstrate increased fluency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking through the
application of the above skills.
III.
Course Requirements
A. Attendance
You must come to all classes for this course. You should tell the instructor in advance if you have to
miss a class. If you are absent for more than thirty percent of classes without telling the instructor
before the classes that you miss, you will fail the course.
B. Classroom Etiquette
No food or drink, except water, are permitted in class. In order to show respect for the time and
concentration of your classmates and your instructor, please turn off your mobile phone or set it to
silent. Respect university property by treating it with care and not damaging it in any way.
C. Class Participation
You are expected to take an active part in all classroom activities, including asking questions in
English, voluntarily answering questions, expressing your opinion, and taking part in group
activities. All class discussion should be in the English language. Being late to class is unacceptable,
and continued tardiness will result in a decreased participation grade. Your participation grade will
be calculated according to the following rubric.
18-20%
13-17%
10-12%
0-9%
Engagement
Student
proactively
Student
often
Student
sometimes
Student rarely
contributes to class by
contributes to class by
contributes to class by
contributes to
offering ideas and/or
offering ideas and/or
offering
class
asks questions more
asks questions once
asking
than once per class
per class and/or works
and/or works on group
and
and/or
works
on group project for
project only some of
questions
consistently on group
most of the allotted
the allotted time.
and/or
project the entire time.
time.
ideas
and
questions
by
offering ideas
asking
has
trouble
staying
task
on
during
group project
time.
Listening
Student listens when
Student listens when
Student does not listen
Student often
others talk, both in
others talk, both in
when
interrupts
groups and in class.
groups and in class.
either in groups or in
when
class.
speak instead
Student
Behaviour
incorporates
others
talk,
or builds off of the
of listening to
ideas of others.
their ideas.
Student never distracts
Student rarely displays
Student
occasionally
classmates
disruptive
displays
disruptive
with
phone, tardiness, or
other
behavior
during class.
behavior during class.
disrespectful
Student
is
Student often
displays
disruptive
behavior
behaviours.
Preparation
others
during class.
usually
Student is sometimes
Student
always prepared for
prepared for class with
prepared for class with
rarely
class with assignments
assignments
assignments
prepared
and
required
required
materials.
almost
class
Student
materials.
is
and
class
required
materials.
and
class
class
is
for
with
assignments
and
required
class
materials.
D. Homework and Quizzes
Homework is given to help you practice new or reviewed skills and is used to assess your
understanding of course content. It should be completed properly and on time. If you do not
understand a homework assignment, or if you are absent and miss it, it is your responsibility to ask
the instructor or a classmate for help. The instructor will inform students when assigning the
homework whether or not it will be included in the final course grade or is simply for extra practice.
There will be several small quizzes throughout each unit that will be counted toward your final grade.
Sometimes, the instructor may choose to give a "pop quiz" without warning, and this can also count
toward your final grade.
E. Projects
As another means of assessment, you will complete one project during units 1-4. Some of these
projects will be individual and some of them will be with a group. They will combine the skills of
reading/writing and listening/speaking. The instructor will give instructions and grading information
for each project when it is assigned.
F. Unit Tests
You will have five unit tests during the course. These tests will usually combine reading/writing and
speaking/listening on one day. Unit tests will be about the unit in the textbook, but you may also be
tested on any extra material that has been covered in that unit.
G. Final Exam
The final exam will be scheduled during exam week, after week 15 of the course. It will be similar
in style to unit exams, but it will cover material from throughout the semester.
IV.
Lesson Schedule
Course Introduction
Weeks 1-3
Unit 1: Advertising
- Unit 1 Project
- Unit 1 Test
Unit 2: Fraud
Weeks 4-6
- Unit 2 Project
- Unit 2 Test
Unit 3: Extreme Sports
Weeks 7-9
- Unit 3 Project
- Unit 3 Test
Unit 4: Gender Issues
Weeks 10-12
- Unit 4 Project
- Unit 4 Test
Unit 5: Tourism
Weeks 13-15
- Unit 5 Test
Exam Period
Final Exam
* date to be announced
Note: Schedule is subject to change at the instructor's discretion.
V.
VI.
Course Grading
Type of activity
Percent of Total Grade
1.
Class Participation
20%
2.
Homework and Quizzes
15%
3.
Projects (4 x 5%)
20%
4.
Unit Tests (5 x 5%)
25%
5.
Final exam
20%
New Generation Academy Grading Scale:
A+
97-100%
C+
74-76%
A
94-96%
C
68-73%
A-
90-93%
C-
64-67%
B+
86-89%
D+
60-63%
B
80-85%
D
54-59%
B-
77-79%
D-
50-53%
F
VII.
< 50%
Academic Honesty
Course participants are expected to maintain academic honesty in their course work. You should
avoid plagiarism and never copy an assignment from a classmate or online source. You must
reference all literature and resources that you use in your class assignments, tests, and projects.
VIII.
Required Textbooks:
1. NorthStar 3: Reading and Writing
2. NorthStar 3: Listening and Speaking