ESL 25: COMPOSITION FUNDAMENTALS REVIEW FOR NONNATIVE SPEAKERS
Fall 2007
SECTION 2156: M W 12:45-2:05 (3 Units) ESL 104
Debra Levitt
EMAIL: levitt_debra@smc.edu
Office hours-Monday 8-9am. LV 124
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: This course reviews and reinforces writing strategies
including the composing process, editing, and revision for English language. Extensive
help will be given in vocabulary acquisition and word forms, sentence structure, and
word order.
PREREQUISITE: Grade of “C” in ESL 21B or English 21B or an equivalent placement
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Houghton Mifflin Company, Horizons (H)
Raimes, Ann, Keys for Writers, Fourth Edition (KW)
Oxford English Dictionary or an equivalent English-English dictionary
Folder with two pockets
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
This course is designed to help English language learners who need more practice in
writing beyond ESL 21A/B to be successful in completing English I for international
students. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to do the following:
1. Demonstrate critical thinking skills in writing
2. Compose clear, coherent, grammatical essays
3. Read for main ideas, details, and inference
4. Demonstrate correct use of academic vocabulary and word forms in writing
5. Cite source material using accepted academic format
This course will enable students to become more grammatically and stylistically
accomplished English writers, to gain a greater sense of confidence in their own
writing capacity, and to experience fulfillment in the act of writing English essays.
METHODS OF PRESENTATION:
Lectures
Class discussions
Student – teacher conferences
Peer group analyses
Self-evaluation
ASSIGNMENTS:
Essays: There will be 3 essays based on assigned readings. There will be one Common
Essay. All in-class essays must be revised at home. Rewrites must be typed and the
original must be included; late papers without a valid excuse for lateness will not be
accepted.
Final date is Monday, June 11th at 12-3pm.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given on readings, grammar, vocabulary and editing skills.
Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped. No make up quizzes will be given. If you miss
two quizzes, no grade will be dropped. Two missed quizzes will equal a zero when
calculating grades.
Reading Response and Journals: Journals will include responses to readings and
commentary on your progress in the class. You will have a vocabulary journal of a
minimum of ten words per week. Each journal will show:
1. the word and its part of speech
2. the definition of the word,
3. other word forms for the word. and
4. a sentence that uses the word that you chose (the sentence is your own-not from the
dictionary-and that relates to the reading).
Example:
Chap 4-“Wise Choices in College: Effective Test Taking”
1. Affirmation-noun,
2. something declared to be true
3. affirm-verb, affirmative-adjective
4. His affirmation helped him to think positively and succeed on his exam.
You must keep all copies of your vocab journals and response writing that you hand
in.
GRADING: Your grades will be based on a point system. The points are added
together and equal your percentage. You can follow your points and percentage
through your file on Ecompanion.
In-class essays
100 points
Journals, Quizzes,
20 points
Homework
10 points
Final
100 points
ESL SUPPORT COURSES:
ESL 23 (Reading); ESL 20A/B (Grammar Workshop) These classes are offered online,
as well.
TUTORING:
The ESL Department offers free tutoring to those students currently taking ESL courses.
Please sign up for tutoring in ESL 106 starting the second week of class.
ATTENDANCE:
ESL 25 is not a correspondence or online course! Your active participation is essential to
success. School policy allows for 6 hours of absence in a 3 unit course. However,
absences compromise your progress. If you are not able to attend a class because of an
emergency, please contact me via email. If you accumulate an excessive number of
unexplained absences, you will be dropped. If you are absent, you are responsible for all
work assigned. It is your responsibility to ask someone in the class to collect any
handouts for you that are distributed in class. Lateness can add up to absences (2 tardies =
one absence). Remember also that you are responsible for dropping the course. Please be
aware of deadlines.
PROTOCOL:
No food or drinks in class.
All pagers and cellular phones must be turned off before coming to class.
No electronic dictionaries are allowed.
HONOR POLICY:
Students must adhere to the SMC Code of Academic Conduct regarding plagiarism and cheating.
Students who cheat or plagiarize will receive an F for the assignment or course. In addition, cheating is
reported to Admissions. No cutting or pasting from the Internet. Excessive use of tutors for editing
purposes is also considered plagiarism.
Please Note: Specific readings and assignments on the syllabus are subject to change
at the discretion of the instructor. Students are responsible for keeping a copy of all
material handed in for grading.
ESL 25/D. Levitt
SYLLABUS/Fall 2007
SECTION 2156
M W 12:45-2:05 /Rm ESL 104
WEEK 1: 8/27
Diagnostic writing-Explain your two most important reasons for getting a degree from
SMC; Introduction to the fundamentals of academic essay writing.
HW: H-p. 6-14, KW-p. 4, 5, 7-18
Journal #1-(minimum 2 paragraphs)-What is the meaning of a name? How does it
influence you? Make sure to identify the country you come from.
Vocab journal #1
Chap 2-H, read p.29-35-list ten important ideas
WEEK 2: 9/3
Feedback on diagnostic essay; discuss chap 2-H, KW pp. 22, 25, 29-41(intro &
conclusions, feedback, editing)
HW: H-read 64-66 (“On Becoming a South Asian-American”), questions Check Comp
(CC)-#1,3, Respond to Reading (RR) #2,4, Identifying Mode (IM)-#2, 5
Journal#2-Write about how you think your country is viewed in the U.S.
Vocab journal #2
WEEK 3: 9/10
Discuss KW p. 44-67, read H-p. 55-63(“El Viejo”)-HW-p61-CC-5, RR-5, IM-1
Prep for essay #1-pg.63#2.
Discuss all readings and prep for essay #1 written in class - group work with figuring
thesis and content; peer editing of essay #1 developing a revision plan for content,
organization, grammar, style and mechanics
WEEK 4: 9/17
Essay #1
HW: Chap 4-Process-p.72-84- HW: H-chap 4-“Effective Test Taking”p.77-82, CC-4,
RR-3,4, IM-1,3
Vocab journal #3
Journal #3- Question 2 OR 3 in Writing about Mode and Theme, p.99
Read “Three Steps to Better Writing” p.111-112.–list the main ideas
WEEK 5: 9/24
H- read “Managing Your Time”. P.93-99-CC-1, 2, 4, RR1, 2, 5, IM 1,4
Vocab Journal #4
Journal #4- p.123-#4
KW pp 275-283
Discuss H-chap 5-113-117- Family/Example and Illustration-first reading; Alice
Hoffman-“The Perfect Family”, 118-123-CC-#2, 5, RR-1, 3,4, IM-3, 5, 6, WW-1-6,
Vocab journal #5
HW: H-p.130-134( David Levinson-“Helping Create a New Kind of Family”, CC-4,
6, RR-1,3, IM-1,4.
Essay #2-At Home (prepare ideas)-H p.140 -#1
Vocab journal #6
WEEK 6: 10/1
Discuss 2nd reading in H; continue discussion of KW pp 275-283( in class)
Read and discuss Student Essay in H, p 141-142.
Show Ozzie and Harriet
HW: Questions p. 142 H following the reading (1-4)
Journal #5-Explain the ways you have acclimated and accepted many of the customs of
this country. Use examples and illustrations of your points.
KW p. 286-87, 292, 294 (33g), 296-300
WEEK 7: 10/8
Continue discussion of pages from chap 5-H. Prepare for Essay#2. Discuss in groupsbrainstorm and write thesis.
Journal #6-What have you learned so far in this class? What has helped you the most and
what would you change?
Vocab journal #7: This week’s journal will be ten words that you have heard or read in
other sources besides ESL 25. NO technical words-words from conversations,
newspapers, novels, songs, etc.
WEEK 8: 10/15
Class discussion and peer review of brainstorming and thesis for essay #2
Hand In Essay #2
HW: H-chap 9 Definition and Explanation: Gender-p. 265-269, Deborah Tannen- “Sex,
Lies, and Conversation”-278-286, CC-5, RR-3,4, IM-2, 3, WW-1-8,
Journal #7- Think of a friend from the opposite gender. How do you communicate? What
are the strengths of your communication and what are the weaknesses?
Vocab journal #8
KW-315-337
WEEK 9: 10/22
HW-p 270-77-Janet Jackson-“Explaining Away Our Relationships”, CC-1, 5, RR-2, 5,
IM-1, 4. Discussion of both readings
Vocab journal #9
WEEK 10: 10/29
Journal #8-Define the term relationship in your own words and explain what is needed
for a successful relationship.
KW-339-359
WEEK 11: 11/5
Essay #3- Look at the picture insert #13. Write an essay in which the different
communication skills of men and women is discussed. Use the picture as a jumping off
point and explain what has possibly taken place. Go into detail about the differences or
similarities. Use the readings as sources. HW-read Paul Theroux p 305-311-“Being a
Man”-CC-2,3,6, RR-1,4, IM-1—Vocab Journal #10
Journal # 9- Write about how you reacted immediately after reading the Paul Theroux
essay.
WEEK 12: 11/12
Common essay (#4).
WEEK 13: 11/19
Prep for Essay #3. Peer editing and review. 311-#1 or #2.
Write essay #3.
Introduction of Tootsie.-Grammar presentation
WEEK 14: 11/26
Tootsie-continued
Journal #10-React to the film as a whole and two characters of your choice.
WEEK 15: 12/3
Discuss the movie and the grammar. Preparation for Final
WEEK 16: 12/10- Last day of class
Preparation for Final.
Final Exam-December 12th-Wednesday-12-3 pm.
FINALS WEEK: December 11-18th
Reminder: A student will fail the course if they do not take the final.
Please note: During the semester, there will be many changes made to this syllabus.
It is your responsibility to be aware of these changes. Absence from class IS NOT
AN EXCUSE. It is expected that when you return to class after an absence, you will
be prepared for that day’s class.